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]