The voter registration methods set down in electoral legislation, guidelines or policies will also impact on how technology needs to be used in the voter registration process.
Voter registration can be active or passive. That is, a person may be required to actively apply for voter registration, or a person may be automatically (or passively) registered through participation in another process, such as holding a drivers licence or being included on a national population register.
Where voter registration is active, a process is needed to convert an application into a voter register record. While this process can be conducted using an entirely manual paper-based system, the various outputs required of modern voter registers generally dictate that an application for registration be converted to an electronic form.
Where voter registration is passive, data is generally taken electronically from another source, such as a drivers licence authority or a national population register. This process is generally not practicable without the ability to use electronic data transfer.
Voter identification requirements
Electoral legislation will generally set down what, if any, proof of identity needs to be submitted by a person applying for voter registration. Where proof of identity is required, a system must exist to record the fact that proof has been provided. While a manual paper-based system could be used in this case, an electronic database system would generally be much more efficient.
Where voter identification details need to be recorded and used at a later date for identity purposes, technology can be used to record and store those details. For example, signatures can be scanned and electronically recorded. Photographs can be taken and stored in digitised form. Where digitised bio-identity data is stored, software can be used to determine whether a person has registered more than once.
Types of voter registers
The type of voter register specified in electoral legislation will also impact on the use of technology for voter registration.
A continuous register is a register that is constantly kept up-to-date by amending and adding voter records whenever necessary. An electronic database can be used to easily update records and add new records, as well as keep track of amended and deleted records.
Periodic registers are another option. In these cases, a register could be established for a single electoral event or for any electoral events occurring within a defined period. Periodic registers generally require voters to register anew and previous registrations are not taken into account. While this type of register can be recorded using manual paper-based systems, as there is not as great a need to allow for amendments and updates as with continuous registers, many advantages can still be gained by electronically capturing and storing registration data.
In some jurisdictions no voter register is produced. In this case, voters apply for registration and are given a registration card as proof of registration but no consolidated register is compiled. Where no voter register is produced, the benefits that flow from holding an electronic register are not achievable, and the need to electronically capture data is not present. Therefore, the only benefit technology can give to this process is to assist with the process of issuing voter registration cards. Of all the types of voter registration processes, this is the one least amenable to using technology.
Some jurisdictions do not have a separate voter register, but make use of other government registers, such as a national civil register. In these cases, electronic storage and manipulation is virtually essential in order to manipulate data and produce products that can be used for electoral purposes.
voters registration cards
We are trying to identify issues and benchmarks related to the concept of mandatory registration cards.
Do you have, or are you aware of a study indicating the countries, worldwide, in which to exibit a registration card is mandatory on polling day/s. Thankfull for any information on this topic you may share with me.
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