Functionality
It is important that materials and equipment are functional in the environments in which they are to be used, simple in construction, easily maintained, and readily understood both by staff and voters. High-integrity, high-cost materials and equipment may provide only marginal, if any, improvement over lower-cost items, even though they may promote a 'classy' image for the electoral management body and international donors. Use of technology should be appropriate for the level of training and equipment maintenance that can be achieved in lower-technology environments. The following issues require careful consideration.
Physical and Political Conditions
The physical and political conditions to be endured will significantly impact the development of viable procedures. Whether voting sites are enclosed or in the open, whether materials are likely to be subject to humidity, dust, cold, or rain, whether security risks have been found, all will determine the durability and security required for voting equipment and materials, particularly in rural areas where back-up facilities and skills may not be available. Examples would include:
- cardboard ballot boxes over time may be less costly than metal or rigid plastic, but not much use under conditions of high humidity or rain--high strength plastic bags may be a better cheap option;
- in dusty or humid conditions, smart adhesive labels can be both more costly and less-effective than old-fashioned writing directly on materials containers.
Availability of Power and Lighting
Where reliable power is not available, the comparative costs of alternative solutions--both monetary as well as in terms of integrity--need careful assessment in each environment. Solutions may entail:
- limiting voting operations to daylight hours, which may entail additional costs in providing more voting locations or multi-day voting;
- provision of mobile generators to voting sites, if they are available and can be maintained during voting;
- provision of emergency lighting equipment (candles, gas lamps), which may entail additional safety or training requirements.
In such circumstances the reliance that can be placed on reporting systems based on electronic equipment and whether counting is better done at central locations (see Special Considerations in the Case of less Developed Countries ) also need careful consideration.
Monitoring Capacities
The skills and availability of independent observers and party or candidate representatives will influence the intensity of voting operations security and accountability mechanisms, as well as materials design.
Numbers and Design of Forms
The numbers and design of forms and other documents that have to be completed by polling staff and other officials can be a crucial issue, particularly in societies with lower literacy levels (see Literacy). A proliferation of forms can test both the patience and skill of less experienced polling staff, and incorrect or incomplete documents can affect perceptions of election validity. And as the complexity and volume of forms increase, so do election costs.
Minimal form requirements relate to:
- accountability for voting materials (receipt, use during voting, unused)
- financial accountability (staff attendance and reporting, petty expenditure) and
- recording of complaints and disputes
Voting operations systems that require more complex recording at the voting station may not be as appropriate in less developed societies.
