Radio can be a very effective communications medium. 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. For information on how radio is used for voter education, see Audio Visual Applications.
Person to person radio communication may be used by an electoral authority in areas with poor conventional communications, such as when polling teams are in remote locations.
Person to person radio systems are generally in the HF (high frequency), VHF (very high frequency) and UHF (ultra high frequency) bands. Some systems are limited in range, and some radio signals are affected by atmospheric conditions. Radio frequencies are usually controlled by government regulation. EMBs considering using person to person radio systems will need to consult their local authorities.
