As election management authorities and civil society groups go about designing voter education programmes, it will be essential for them to understand the context in which such programmes will be conducted. This assessment should embrace an understanding of the legal framework for elections, the political dynamics, the electorate, both generally and with respect to target groups, and the resources available to implement the programme.
Contextual assessments will be even more important in transitional settings where there are likely to be significant changes in the electoral environment. These may include a new constitution, recently adopted or amended electoral laws, changes to election practice, the introduction of new representational systems or election technologies, the creation of a permanent election authority or representative bodies at the local level, the growth of political parties and civil society groups, the enfranchisement of certain parts of the population, the mass movement of citizens (including persons displaced as a result of war), improvements in or perhaps the decay of the county's infrastructure, a proliferation of media outlets, and so on.
Understanding the context contributes to ensuring that programmes are relevant, efficacious, and significant. It is also essential to ensuring programmes are not only cost effective but diligently evaluated upon completion.
With respect to the electorate, educators will want to know basic background information and will then, using the best techniques available, establish the educational needs of the general electorate as well as target constituencies.
