Communications are essential to the conduct of modern elections. In order to organise and run an election, a range of communication methods need to be employed. Voice, data, documents and images can all be transmitted electronically. The technology used for these purposes ranges from tried and relatively simple ones, like the telephone or radio, to newer, more sophisticated ones, such as microwave or satellite transmissions.
Some of the electronic communications methods used for electoral applications include:
- Telecommunications lines (phone/fax/cable/internet/intranet/data lines)
- Radio
- Television
- Satellites
- Microwaves
Telecommunications lines (phone/fax/cable/internet/intranet/data lines)
Standard phone and facsimile telecommunications lines remain the most common method of electronic communication between electoral officers and their clients, however the growth of email and computer networks in the 1990s and 2000s has seen computerised communications assume much greater importance.
Mobile telephones, which connect to main telephone lines through radio signals to communications towers and satellites, are also increasingly being used as an alternative to the standard telephone. The portability and convenience of mobile phones has great potential for electoral purposes, as electoral officials, particularly at polling places not equipped with standard telephones, can be contacted more easily.
The telephone can be an important part of an electoral authority's public communication campaign. Teams of people in telephone call centres can be employed to handle large numbers of calls from the public. Database inquiry systems can be used by call centres to enable casual staff to handle relatively complex inquiries and to keep records of the number and type of calls. Special national 'free call' or low cost inquiry telephone numbers can be used and advertised widely. These generally easy to remember numbers enable the public to telephone a call centre from anywhere in the country for no or minimal cost, the cost of the calls being met by the electoral authority.
Laying and connecting telecommunications cables are skilled tasks that should only be performed by accredited professionals.
Radio
Radio technology is used for essentially two purposes: public broadcasting and as a person to person communications device (although radio technology is also used for wireless data transmission and mobile phones - see Telecommunications).
Public broadcast radio is extensively used in many countries for electoral advertising. It is relatively inexpensive and it has the potential to reach a wide audience. Radio advertising is particularly useful for audiences who have difficulty with printed material for literacy or disability reasons.
Public radio is also particularly effective in linguistically and culturally diverse countries, as the proliferation of 'alternative' radio stations offer a wide range of broadcasts in various languages, appealing to people from a variety of cultures. Radio is also increasingly being 'broadcast' around the world on the internet, increasing its reach still further.
The wide range and reach of public radio broadcasting makes it a very important tool for communicating electoral matters.
Person to person radio communication may be used by an electoral authority in an area with poor conventional communications, such as polling teams in remote locations.
Television
Public broadcast television is widely used by many electoral authorities for electoral advertising. Like radio, it has the potential to reach a wide audience and is useful for audiences who have difficulty with printed material for literacy or disability reasons. It also has the added benefit of being able to use images as well as sound, making it a very powerful medium. However, television advertising tends to be expensive.
Satellites
Satellite technology is increasingly being used as a communication medium, particularly in remote locations where conventional telecommunications lines are not available. Dedicated hardware is needed to send and receive satellite transmissions.
Microwaves
Microwave technology is also increasingly being used as a medium for transmitting data. Microwave transmissions are useful in situations where conventional telecommunications lines are not available or desirable. Dedicated hardware is needed to send and receive microwave transmissions.
For greater detail on communications, see Communications Technology.
