Voter education can make a
major contribution to electoral integrity. Voter education programs disseminate
balanced and objective information on what citizens need to know in order to
exercise their right to vote. They provide information on voters’ rights and
obligations in the electoral process and explain the importance of voting.
In some countries voter education is an integral part of broader civic
education programs.
Importance
of a Democratic Culture
Building a democratic culture is
an essential building block in promoting and protecting free and fair
elections. That is why in many democracies civic education starts in elementary
school. This prepares students to understand the role they can play in
democracy when they become eligible to vote. It also enables them to relay
information to their parents about the electoral process.
Education
as a Means for Preventing Integrity Problems
Voters need to understand
their rights and duties under the constitution and election law of their
country so that they can meet their obligations in a responsible manner.
Informed, responsible voters help safeguard electoral integrity. They do not
make false statements that might disrupt or disturb an election. They do not
act illegally, intimidate other voters or try to tamper with the election
results. They turn out to vote because they understand the importance of
participating in the electoral process.
Without sufficient education,
it can be hard to eliminate abuses such as vote buying or tampering through
intimidation, especially in countries with high unemployment, low incomes and
security problems. Voters may not be aware of their rights or the mechanisms
that are used to protect the secrecy of their vote, or what motivates politicians
or their supporters to attempt to buy their vote.
A good education program will inform
voters about their rights, how to exercise them and the way the electoral system
works. It should also explain the effects of corruption and the need for
integrity in public service and the electoral process.
Neutrality
in Education
Voter education should provide
sufficient information so that voters can participate knowledgeably. In a
neutral way, programs should explain when, where and how to register and vote;
the identity documents that must be presented; and how to mark a ballot so that
it is valid and will be counted. Voter education programs cannot have any overt
or implicit political content, or it becomes mere propaganda on behalf of a
specific candidate or party.
In most democracies, electoral
administrators are responsible for ensuring that all citizens receive basic voter
information and that it is presented in a non-partisan manner. In some systems,
voter education programs may be enhanced by the involvement of civil society or
non-governmental organizations. In South Africa,
anyone wishing to provide voter education must be accredited by the Electoral
Commission. During the 2005 elections in Iraq,
military personnel appeared in the televised voter information campaign, and
their participation may have created a false impression about these programs. (Iraq’s
Independent Electoral Commission was not aware of this initiative, but it had
not set out specific instructions prohibiting the involvement of certain persons
in public information campaigns.)[1]
[1] International Mission
for Iraqi Elections, Final Report: Assessment of the January 30, 2005,
Election Process
