Key Criteria for Site Selection
The electoral law and regulations will lay down criteria which must be followed although the
provisions of some laws are much more extensive than others.
In the Albania Electoral Law (see Electoral Law - Albania), Articles 29 - 33 set out criteria which include
setting up a polling site for every 100 to 1000 voters in villages and every 800 to 1200 voters in
cities. Where a dwelling centre is farther than 3 km from the nearest polling site, a separate site is
established if there are more than 50 voters. These criteria are quite detailed. Article 55 of the
Cambodia Electoral Law (see United Nations Electoral Law for Cambodia, 1992) states, 'There shall be as many poling stations at such
places ..... as may be determined by the Chief Electoral Officer'.
Article 72 of the Bosnia/Herzegovina Electoral Law, see Rules and Regulations - Bosnia-Herzegovina, decrees there shall be an
average of 600 to 800 electors at each polling site.
Having taken into account the law, the electoral manager is likely to consider practical criteria
with respect to polling site selection. The two obvious ones are the necessity to ensure free and
fair elections and then the convenience of the electorate that the polling site serves. It is essential
that the criteria are applied fairly. In two areas with the same geographical and social
characteristics, the average elector should have the same ability to access the polling site.
Who can be present at the polling site?
The electoral law may establish who can be present at the polling site. The polling site is where
the voting takes place and it is absolutely essential that admission is strictly controlled. Nothing
will cause voters greater concern about the freeness, fairness and secrecy of the electoral process
than finding people in the polling site who should not be there. A typical list of who might be
found on a polling site is:
- poll workers
- candidates and candidates or party agents
- non partisan monitors, international observers and domestic observers
- police and
security forces (in some Countries these must remain outside)
Wherever possible, accreditation should be worn by people inside the polling site. Where persons
other than poll workers and voters are allowed in the polling site, the law should make it clear
that the activities which can take place in the polling site are strictly controlled. The electors
should only be required to give such information about themselves as is required by law to
establish identity or other requirements, and electors should not be approached by agents,
observers or others except to ask questions authorised by the law. At all stages, the conduct of
the voting process in the polling site should be undertaken in a manner which gives all
participants confidence in the fairness, secrecy and security of the voting process.
What sites are excluded?
The electoral law may often prescribe buildings which cannot be used for polling sites - for
example, places of worship which are particular to one or another denomination and buildings
which are associated with any particular candidate or party contesting the election. Even where
the law does not exclude buildings from use the electoral manager should give careful
consideration to the use of any buildings which might be regarded as partisan in any way or
cause concern to any section or group of the electorate.
Prohibited Activities at Polling Sites
Most electoral laws contain provisions prohibiting certain activities in or within specified
distances of the polling site. Normally the display of any form of campaign material at the
polling site is prohibited and on occasions such material is prohibited within a specified distance
from the polling site. Again some electoral laws prohibit campaigning on the day before polling
day and polling day itself. In other countries, campaigning is permitted right up to the close of
the poll but again not at the polling site or within a specified distance of it. The electoral law of
the Republic of South Africa is one which prescribes extensive areas around the polling site,
within which activities are regulated. There are 3 zones: the first is the election centre which will
contain the actual polling site and will have a radius of a maximum of 100 metres - within this
only the voters and poll workers and others who have a specific right such as observers, agents
and interpreters can be present; the second zone extends to 600 metres radius from the polling
site and within it no political activity is allowed; the third zone extends to 1100 metres radius
from the polling site and no political activity, such as speeches or marches, is allowed but the
political party candidates are allowed in this area to greet the public.
In the Bosnia/Herzegovina Electoral Law, see Rules and Regulations - Bosnia-Herzegovina, Part VII sets out a code for political
parties, candidates and electoral workers which includes in Article 120 provisions regulating
activities around and in polling sites. This type of code applying to participants in the electoral
process is an effective way of setting out standards and ensuring a nonpartisan approach. In
Articles 70 to 85, the law sets out a variety of provisions regulating the polling site; these articles
are good examples of specifying clearly what happens once a polling site is selected and the
process of controlling the area around the polling site and regulating its activities.
Other Considerations
The electoral law will establish the mechanism for voter registration and is also likely to
prescribe the hours and day or days of polling. Both need to be taken into account during the
polling site selection process. The electoral law will also specify whether the polling site has any
function prior to the polling day or days. For example, if it is to be used for early voting in a
period of days before polling day, then this usage is an issue that needs to be taken into account
in the selection of the site. Also one should consider whether the electoral law makes provision
for a mobile ballot box to be taken to certain categories of electors (normally infirm, elderly and
disabled) on polling day. If any supplies are distributed in advance or remain on the site for
collection, secure storage needs to be arranged.
Multiple Sites in the Same Building
It is common practice in many areas for the electoral law to allow more than one polling station
within the same polling site. It may be necessary, because of the number of electors, to have
more than one polling station to cover the same electoral area or alternatively the polling site
may be serving several electoral areas.
Maximum Numbers of Electors and Distances to be Travelled
The electoral law may require that within the electoral area a polling station is established for
each say 2,000 electors, so that in an electoral area with 5,000 electors, there would be three
polling stations. The law may require that the polling stations are all within the same polling
site, or that the stations can be established separately. The law may again require that no voter
has to travel more than a specified distance. If, for example, the law limits this distance to 5 km,
a polling site would have to be established appropriately.
Fair Guidelines
To ensure fairness it is highly desirable that the electoral commission or electoral official adopt
criteria for polling site selection (even if they are not prescribed by law), the maximum number
of electors a station will serve, and a maximum distance an elector may be required to travel.
Setting out guidelines in advance ensures that all participants know what the electoral manager
expects and these guidelines can include behaviour and activity in and around the polling site, if
these are not prescribed by law. Guidelines are more effective when used to indicate the criteria
the electoral manager will use to make decisions. Where guidelines are used to try and regulate
activities they can be less effective unless there is some clear sanction the electoral manager can
bring into effect to enforce them if they are blatantly disregarded.
Different Responsibilities for Polling Site Provision
The responsibility for the provision of polling sites may not necessarily be that of the
organisation dealing with other parts of the election process. For example, the electoral law may
prescribe that the responsibility for dealing with the balloting process is that of an electoral
commission, whereas the responsibility for providing the sites is that of a local council or mayor
or other local official. Exchange of information and close co-ordination in planning the electoral
process is essential in these circumstances.
Public Notice of Polling Sites and Electors
Normally, the law relative to polling site selection requires that public notice is given as to the
location of the polling site not later than a specified number of days before polling day. The
form of the public notification can vary. It may be in the form of notices published throughout
the electoral area, or of notices published at the polling site. Again the electoral law often
requires that the list of electors entitled to vote at the polling site be published at the same
location as well. There may be requirements for each elector to receive a voting card noting the
location of the polling site and hours during which it will be open for the poll and notices
published in newspapers and at other public places. The electoral law is also likely to require
that the candidates and/or parties contesting the election be notified of the polling sites to be
used.
Consultation with Candidates and Parties
Consultation with the candidates and parties over polling site selection is often not a requirement,
but it is however an activity from which useful feedback can be obtained from parties and
candidates and which can be taken into account by the person or organisations making the
decision.
Free Use of Polling Sites and Compulsory Use of Sites
The electoral law frequently prescribes that certain public buildings can be used free of charge or
at minimal cost for electoral purposes and that the person or organisation responsible for the
conduct of the election can require their use. Where elections are held at short notice, a provision
in the electoral law enabling the responsible organisation or person to require the use of public
(and in some case any) building for electoral purposes is useful.
Problems with Sites
Where a site is not available or becomes unsuitable during the polling process because of fire or
other emergency, then an alternative site should be obtained as close as possible to the original
one and clear signing to the new location should be provided with, if necessary, staff directing
electors from the old to the new site.
For further information see Locations of Voting Sites.
