Education programmes have to work within the constraints of available resources. This need not be a limitation if educators consider the question of resources carefully prior to setting objectives and establishing their educational strategy and programmes.
In addition to the obvious resources of people and money, educators need to consider what else the country has to offer in terms of infrastructure and social capital.
In many transitional societies, particularly due to war, civil strife, or economic stagnation, the quality of the infrastructure may pose one of the biggest challenges to the implementation of a voter education programme, especially with respect to distribution.
There may also be disagreement about who is responsible for covering the costs of certain activities or commodities. In some instances, for example, election law may require state-owned mass media to air official voter education messages. Unless the provision of free airtime is clearly and unambiguously stated, differing interpretations are likely to arise between the media outlet and the election authority about whose budget covers the costs of broadcasting.
Once an assessment has been made of available resources, it may be found that they are sufficient to conduct the necessary programmes.
However, some serious limitations may emerge. In this case, an election authority can act as the catalyst for resource development. It need not remain passive in the face of disadvantage or scarcity, even though it may need to develop strategies, especially educational ones, that account for scarcity of existing resources. There may be some possibility of obtaining resources from the private sector (see The Private Sector) as well as International Support) or of leveraging resources by forming strategic partnerships with civil society (see Mechanisms for Partnerships in Voter Education and the section on Existing Social Organisation). Ultimately, the parameters of the voter education programme must reflect a honest accounting of resources. The voter education budget cannot jeopardize other preparations for elections, while overall election administration cannot overreach national resources that are needed for other purposes.
