Basic Issues
Voting is an exercise in communication. It is important that persons of lower literacy, or members of communities using different languages, are provided with the information and facilities to allow them to communicate their voting preference.
Voting Facilities
Additional polling officials may need to be assigned to voting stations in areas of lower literacy, both to act as information officers and to maintain an acceptable voter traffic flow in an environment where assistance to voters may slow the time taken to complete each vote. For such areas instructions to voters within the voting station--posters, signage, voting instruction pamphlets--should as far as possible be available in a pictorial format.
Even with such assistance, voters of lower literacy still may not understand how to correctly complete their vote. Provisions for assisted voting will ensure that they may participate in the voting process. (For a discussion of assisted voting methods, see 'Assistance in Voting' in Physically Handicapped Voters.)
Similarly, where there are voters whose language is not the major language of the country, additional voting station facilities may need to be provided to allow their informed participation in voting. These may include:
interpreting services, which can be most cost-effectively achieved by employing as polling officials persons proficient in languages used in the local area. Where persons with the combination of language and technical skills are not available, additional staff to serve as interpreters should be employed;
Instructions for voting on ballot papers and for other voting forms in all languages of significant use within the electoral district. The same holds for multi-lingual signs and voter information posters within the voting station.
Voter Information
Areas of lower literacy and diverse languages provide special challenges for voter information campaigns (see Voter Information). In the case of lower literacy areas, use of print media needs to be oriented towards pictorial representation and heavily supplemented with direct oral communication: through meetings, street theatre and displays, simulations and personal contact.
It may be more difficult to cater to different language groups, particularly in diverse societies with a recent history of intensive immigration to scattered locations within the country. Where language groups are relatively concentrated, provision of bulk voter information materials specifically catering to the language group can be more easily achieved. These could be straight translation of the major language voter information material. However, consultation with the communities should always occur to ensure that:
- such basic translations do not offend any cultural sensitivities (for example the use of new Croat words in translations for a Serb minority target group);
- word or pictorial images and examples used are culturally relevant to the specific language group.
Where language groups are more scattered, this may not be cost-effective targeting of the intended audience. Provision of information through cultural and community groups may be more effective. Similarly, production of materials that provide information, in all the languages of the area, on contact points for complete voter information in the relevant languages may be more effective than bulk distribution of material in all languages. Such contact points could be advertised meetings to inform specific language groups, telephone inquiry services catering to specific language groups, or distribution points for specific language print material.
