Standardized ballots make it possible to have a secret vote. The design and type of ballot can affect the integrity of the process. A good ballot design can, for instance, help ensure that the voters are able to find their candidate of choice on the ballot and that they can mark the ballot so that their intention is clear. This can avoid many problems during counting.
There are many different types of ballots, including paper ballots, machine ballots (see Voting Mechanisms), and soon internet balloting, but to assure integrity, each ballot needs:
- to have a standardized format so that every candidate or party competing on the ballot have the same sized print and visibility;
- have an accounting mechanism that allows ballots to be tracked, such as serial numbered stubs;
- be simple to understand and complete so that voters are able to mark the ballots correctly;
- be nonpartisan in the way candidates and issues are placed on the ballot; and
- meet minimum standards (see Procurement). These can include type and size of
paper used or technical specifications for voting machines.
Long ballots with many candidates and races that are used in some countries, for instance, can create confusion for some voters. These can be
broken up into separate short ballots for individual races, but this does not eliminate the problem
of voters losing interest or becoming overwhelmed before they finish voting. Ballot position can
also affect voting behaviour so a neutral design of the ballot is especially important.
In some countries, candidates are grouped by office contested and within that office, in either a random or alphabetical
order. Depending on the system, candidates can also be listed by party columns enabling voters
to vote a straight ticket for all candidates of a particular party with one mark
In some multi-cultural societies, the election policy body will need to determine the language of
the ballot. The needs of illiterate voters will also need to be taken into consideration. This is
addressed in several systems through the use of numbers or party logos to identify parties and
candidates in addition to the written text. Some systems also add photographs of the candidates
to the ballots.
Protecting the integrity of the ballots
Once a ballot design is decided, electoral managers have to ensure that they have control over the
number of ballots printed, distributed and circulated. They also need to ensure that it is difficult, if not impossible, for ballots to be tampered with or pre-marked, and that there are enough ballots in
every polling site in time for polling.
Some systems include additional security features in the ballot design to make unauthorized
duplication or tampering more difficult. These can include water marks and the use of special
paper. These features can involve additional costs (see Cost Considerations) which can play
a factor in whether or not they are used. For more on design considerations see Printed Ballot Integrity Controls.
To ensure protection of the ballots from tampering and from damage, as well as the right of every legitimate elector to cast his or his vote, good planning by election managers is critical. This includes having a good estimate of the number of ballots needed for each polling location to ensure that all voters can exercise their right to cast their choice. Not having
enough ballots can seriously jeopardize the integrity of the poll and the validity of the
results.
For example, in the 1995 elections in Haiti, the degree of urban migration had been underestimated,
raising serious concerns right before polling of not having enough ballots. This was resolved by
photocopying ballots the night before the polling which ensured that there were enough ballots,
but at the same time, short-circuited security mechanisms, such as tracking numbers. Not having enough ballots was also an issue in some places in the 1994 elections in South Africa.
Election managers must also ensure the integrity of the ballots during storage and their
distribution to avoid damage to the ballots or tampering that would affect their integrity. Good planning as to the number of ballot packages and the quantity of ballots per
packet, can eliminate the need to open and rehandle ballots after delivery from the printer. Good
tracking systems are essential to protect ballot security. (For more information see Supplies - Distribution and Supplies - Recovery and Evaluation.)
When voting machines are used, as is done in some systems, the same good planning and security mechanisms can be used to protect the integrity of the machines. Electoral managers have the responsibility to ensure they are not accessible to unauthorized persons during storage, distribution or in the pre- or post-voting period in the polling stations, so that they cannot be programmed to alter the election results.
Political party monitors can also play an important role in ensuring the integrity of the ballots. In
Mexico, for example, political party monitors observe ballot storage and distribution. During distribution,
wrappers are stamped and signed by all officials and monitors present. This makes it difficult to
sidetrack or switch ballots without detection.
