The challenge facing educators with isolated or nomadic people is to get the message to these them in language and by communications means that they understand and accept. Isolation may pose less severe challenges once contact has been established. Such contact may require radio, including amateur or ham radio, or the shipping of materials to nearby distribution or broadcast centres. In some cases, systems for delivering general government services - health or commercial services such as food supplies - may have to be used. In this regard, food packaging that has been adapted to convey voter education messages may be useful.
As isolated groups may be small, costs will have to be commensurate with their size and perceived political importance. But the doubling up strategy may well save money and enable a professional service to be provided. Nomadic groups may pose a greater challenge because of the relationship they have to a particular state. If the relationship is strong, such groups may well travel into an area where elections are to take place and where voter information or voter education is available. If the relationship is weak, strategies that come to terms with that may have to be developed. Materials that can be carried away, and that are in the appropriate language, may be used. Training of members of the nomadic community and educators who travel themselves may be necessary.
While people in nomadic communities may choose not to participate in electoral politics, it is easy to assume this choice rather than implicate the dominant society in the politics of exclusion. Judgements will need to be made about which is playing a greater part in their social isolation. Educators will want to test this carefully and examine their own bias and assumptions before deciding that an educational intervention is not necessary.
