Critical Periods
Transportation needs for voting operations are concentrated in three distinct periods:
- the delivery of voting operations materials and equipment from manufacturers to storage in readiness for packing and delivery to voting locations;
- the delivery of materials, equipment, and staff to voting stations;
- the return of materials, equipment, and staff from voting locations.
Transport Infrastructure Assessment Issues
Transportation infrastructure should be carefully assessed to see whether it can meet these peak requirements. This will include determination of:
- destinations that can be reached by all-weather roads and any load limits on such roads;
- where roads are not present or suitable, availability of rail transport, fixed wing or helicopter air transport;
- availability of transport vehicles--from private, other government or security forces--their load capacity and reliability;
- availability of warehousing facilities for secure storage of voting operations materials both before and after voting day;
- where materials are being sourced from foreign countries, international transport or shipping schedules, customs clearance times, and if by sea, wharf clearance facilities;
- emergency transport facilities, for re-supply of areas where original supplies were deficient or have been misplaced.
Effects on Supply Decisions
The coverage and condition of transport infrastructure will very much determine feasible timetables of voting operations logistics and their costs. (For example, if air transport is required, considerable increases in costs may be incurred). Transport infrastruction may also influence the type of security measures that are required. If transport stock is insufficient, or unreliable, logistical scheduling will need to allow for increased transport time, affecting all functions dependent on delivery of materials. In such cases, modern management practices of just-in-time delivery will not be applicable, leading to increased need for secure warehousing for materials or the procurement of more locally-based warehousing facilities.
Decisions on sourcing materials from locations with poor transport services also must take into account delivery prospects. Quality, price, or production time advantages may be illusory where transport infrastructure deficiencies result in uncertain delivery dates.
Available transport infrastructure may also determine the feasibility of service to some potential voting locations. Conversely, where road transport conditions are poor, decisions on locating voting stations, even at the increased cost of air supply, will be guided by accessibility considerations for voters in the surrounding area.
Election-Specific Transport Infrastructure Investment
Generally, there will be little justification for investment in transport networks purely for voting operations purposes. Use of existing transportation networks and vehicles will usually be more cost-effective. However, international election assistance in the form of transport stock that can later be used for other development purposes may be justified as a sustainable contribution in some less developed countries. This is provided so that controls on the management of such transport equipment during the election period are sufficient to ensure that it remains in public or other authorised use after the election. In the intense activity of the voting operations period, such controls may be difficult to maintain where significant quantities of transport equipment are involved.
Special Voting Facilities
Some special voting facilities will require additional analysis of available transport infrastructure. Where it is planned to use mobile voting stations (see Other Special Voting Arrangements), particularly for remote areas (see Remote Areas), examination of feasible transport routes needs to be undertaken prior to determining the operations of such teams. Where all-weather roads or suitable vehicles for lesser quality roads are not available, the availability of air transport (regular service or charter) and landing facilities, or water access will need to be assessed. Costs or unavailability of all-weather infrastructure may require a re-assessment of the viability of planned mobile voting locations.
With regard to voting in a foreign country, if voting stations in foreign locations are used (see Voting in a Foreign Country), it is essential that voting materials can be quickly forwarded to these locations for issue to voters, and that completed ballots can be returned quickly to the home country for verification and/or count within any legislative deadlines for return of material. Without regular and reliable air transport services, a foreign country location for voting would generally not be feasible.
