Because of the enormous amount of human and material resources that have to be put into action with absolute precision to guarantee smooth progress, an electoral process is costly as it is.
Although the costs of an election cannot be the determining element in the organisation of electoral processes, (especially in transition processes), it cannot be ignored either.
To a certain extent, concern to reduce the cost of the processes grows as the system becomes more stable and international aid is consequently withdrawn. This trend encourages the search for more efficient technical solutions and the achievement of an electoral Administration of a size and with means that are sustainable by the country itself.
However, this is a concern that should not be overlooked at any stage of the process. The objective of effectiveness of the means used is not incompatible with the conducting of a fair electoral process, but very much on the contrary, it facilitates the consolidation of the democratic system from several points of view:
- It makes the country less dependent on international aid;
- It can convert the electoral Administration into an example of organisational and financial rationality, indispensable for a system that has to distribute its resources more fairly;
- From a negative point of view: all administrative activity that is not bound to strict financial rules and control is a source of possible corruption that distorts and discredits the democratic system, the implementation of which is being attempted.
