An election with integrity calls for procedures and measures to guarantee the secrecy of the vote and the security of participants and sites. The electoral system would clearly define voting rules at a safe, accessible and neutral polling site. The type of ballots and their design can reinforce the integrity of the process.

To attract voters less likely to use traditional voting methods, the system might allow alternatives such as e-voting, which poses its own challenges to electoral integrity (since the circumstances under which the act of voting occurs cannot be observed).  In addition it is possible that an e-voting system could be “hacked”, and the votes changed during transmission.

At polling stations, competent officials should be present to ensure that voting takes place in compliance with electoral law. There should also be monitors representing political parties, as well as independent observers. These can detect potential problems, such as proxy, group and “family” voting;  multiple (including carousel) voting and voter impersonation; and discrimination, intimidation and fraud.

Safe, Accessible and Neutral Polling Site Locations

The location of a polling site may affect the integrity of the vote, especially if it is not a neutral, easily accessible or safe location. Voters need to feel protected from political activists and pressure during voting. Polling sites are best set up in a safe and neutral location, such as a school, sports centre or community hall. The property of a party representative or government offices are generally avoided, as are private homes (unless another adequate facility is not available). Some countries will try to avoid the use of religious facilities whenever possible.  There is a premium on making sure that polling sites are easily accessible, easy to find and served by public transit if any.

Observers will often focus on whether polling sites have been distributed geographically in a way which does not favor voters from particular groups in society or of a certain political composition.  In Croatia during the 2007 elections for the Sabor (parliament), for example, the main opposition parties sued the State Election Commission, arguing that areas where their supporters were concentrated were inadequately served by voting facilities.  Denied by the SEC, they also failed to prevail in an appeal to the Constitutional Court, the Court finding that there was a sufficient basis to support the location of sites, which had been used previously.  International observers commented that the laws governing the establishment of (new) polling sites were vague.[1]

When minority voters are concentrated in certain areas, while being dispersed elsewhere in smaller relative numbers, it can have a negative effect on their ability to obtain representation vis-à-vis their overall share of the vote.  In Montenegro for the parliamentary elections of 1998, the electoral law was amended to permit ethnic Albanian-based parties, within certain parameters, to aggregate the results of the voting so that votes obtained in areas with weak concentrations of their supporters could be applied instead in other districts, where they had a better chance of obtaining representation. 

Professional, Non-Partisan Personnel and Suitable Equipment

Non-partisan, properly trained and competent voting personnel play an essential part in implementing voting procedures and ensuring that the necessary measures are taken to maintain order and protect voting secrecy.

Ballot boxes must be secure. Most countries use a sealing mechanism with a serial number or other identifying mark to prevent fraud. Many have also switched to transparent ballot boxes to show that ballots have not been stuffed into them. South Africa labels and numbers all ballot boxes so they cannot be switched without the knowledge of officials. Suitable privacy screens are set up at polling stations to protect the secrecy of the vote.

Presence of Political Party Monitors and Candidate Representatives

Having monitors from various political parties and a limited number of candidate representatives along with domestic observers reduces the risk of collusion with polling station officials to manipulate the results. Monitors usually sign each tally sheet and also receive an official copy, allowing them to check that the results are not manipulated later. They also monitor the voting process to detect potential problems of discrimination, intimidation and fraud that may arise on election day.