Voter registration involves activities that may benefit from the use of technology. For example, recording and storing names and other personal identification (address, citizenship, age, gender, etc.); printing lists, sometimes using multiple selection criteria; tracking changes in information over time; or data sharing with other government bodies. The most important and widespread use of technology for voter registration is the computerisation of voters’ lists and production of a Voter Identification Card. This is particularly useful in countries where an identification book or any other kind of national identification is not in use. Other technologies have also been adopted to enhance the voter registration system, including the following:
- Computer networking: Voter registration data may be entered into a stand-alone computer, but a major advantage of computerisation is the capacity to communicate and exchange information using computers linked in networks. For example, the computers in a registration centre or office are usually networked together, and also linked to regional and/or national offices. Voter registration data may be gathered at the local level, where it is placed in electronic files and then transferred to the election management authority headquarters for integration into the complete national register. In turn, headquarters may send the poll-level data back to local offices for printing of voters’ lists.
- Data-sharing technology: Particularly in jurisdictions with a continuous list, the election management authority negotiates partnerships with other government bodies for the sharing of changes in citizens’ personal information. Each partner may use a different database. The election management authority therefore would develop or purchase technology enabling it to read and process data from various databases.
- Digital photography makes it easy to include voters’ photographs on the voters’ list and/or voter identification cards.
- Digital fingerprinting has improved the quality and reduced the cost of fingerprinting, a key security feature. It also helps prevent electoral fraud as a voter’s finger print can be checked to see if the voter has already voted.
- Lamination of the voter identification card may deter attempts to alter the information that appears on it, helping to reduce voter fraud. The laminate may be applied through either a hot or cold process. Cold lamination is particularly suitable for use at sites without electricity.
- Scanning of original documents (birth certificates, passports, etc.) allows the election management authority to keep records definitively proving a voter’s identity. Scanning also minimises the physical space required for records storage.
- Internet presence is becoming the rule for public bodies. On its website, an election management authority may post information about its activities as well as voter education materials.
Technology that may be of interest to election management authorities is widely available. Also available within the community of electoral administrators is considerable expertise and experience in evaluating the goods and services on the market. Consultation with colleagues may be helpful when deciding whether to use different technologies or upgrading these technologies or making recommendations on their use to the government.
