Preparation for implementation requires attention to a range of issues. While some of these can be tackled during the programme assessment and preliminary stages, unfortunately a number of them must be delayed until the educational plan is further developed.
For this reason, a Voter Education Calendar that is much more detailed than the election calendar is required. Plans must be considered for financing the programme (see Budgeting and Financing for Voter Education Programmes). Unless funding has been obtained in advance for the programme plan, educators need to seek funds after developing a plan and before implementing it. This can take a considerable amount of time.
The programme design itself has to be developed in macro and micro details. Having blocked out the various elements that will be used, curriculum developers and materials producers need to focus on specific micro or lesson plans.
Having established these plans, there will be a need to commission the production of materials and materials that already exist have to be procured, stored, and distributed (see Procurement) Staff recruitment and training will also be required (see Staffing for Civic and Voter Education).
Any plan will also have to have some degree of flexibility built in to deal with any unforeseen developments.
Making Use of What is in Place
This narrative suggests a linear progression, but even when there is little in place before the programme, preparation is based on local conditions. There may be existing staff or materials around which the programme can be developed.
There may be an existing plan that was used to finance the programme before the appointment of the first members of the educational team, or certain goods and services may already have been commissioned.
Having determined one strategy, it may become apparent that there are not sufficient materials for its success, or it may be beyond the capability of available staff. Changes can be made at a macro or, more often, micro level.
Time Lines
As the preparatory phase of the programme consists of repetitive elements, care should be taken to establish a time line or calendar that allows sufficient time - particularly for materials production and distribution. In addition, the calendar should be prepared to allow the programme to develop as it unfolds. This is essential if the programme is to be responsive to feedback from the field. It can also strengthen the programme’s content and shorten its duration. It may not be necessary to recruit staff to train voter information officers at a voting station until just before training workshops begin. Or, it might be possible to familiarize trainers with that programme and then have them engage in other training activities. Especially for election programmers, staff should be employed on this basis from the beginning. Materials required for that same event may also not be needed until just before the event.
Commitment
The whole preparatory phase is one of marshalling resources and time in the most efficient way possible. Educators who have conducted a similar programme before will find they have a book from which to work. Those conducting a programme for the first time should work as a team to test their plan, and can expect that even with the best possible plan, they will work longer hours and under more pressure than originally expected.
