It is important during the assessment of the context to ensure that those tasked with planning for the voter education programme have full knowledge of the financial and time constraints. These are not always obvious or fully enunciated. There may also be significant changes to the environment in which the voter education programme is being conducted or the audience to which is it being directed. These changes are likely to affect the time and money needed for the current undertaking relative to past allocations. So educators will want to enquire into the details as early as possible. Seasoned educators will advise you that there is never enough time and always too little money.
Saving Time and Money
Education programmes will have to consider ways to reduce costs and save time. Mainly, this is done by increasing voluntary support and the number of organisations contributing to the undertaking. As noted elsewhere, forming strategic partnerships between election authorities, civil society, and the private sector helps to leverage costs, while financial support can be sought from international organisations. Tasks can also be simplified through appropriate planning and regulatory mechanisms. This can also be done by doubling up on resources and staff. One training event or manual can fill more than one need or reach more than one audience.
Cutting to Suit the Cloth
Unfortunately, election-related tasks cannot be slowed down or given a new deadline because an educator feels that the time available is not sufficient. Rather, the objectives of the programme have to be streamlined and the consequences of this explained to the client, whether a sponsor, an election authority, a government department, or a group of learners. Their expectations will also have to be managed throughout the course of the project. This is, in fact, one of the most difficult areas for non-educators to grasp - that learning is time-related. Materials development, production, and distribution as well as orientation and training of educators, and the actual education time itself are all time-intensive and often difficult tasks to perform within established deadlines. Those who conduct programmes which are cyclical in nature will obviously find it easier to meet deadlines than those constantly preparing from scratch each time a campaign or election is held.
