There are two reasons why election sites should be used as primary opportunities for voter information and education.
- Information and education can be made available cheaply. Distribution of materials can be incorporated with other election materials. Advertising can be displayed without cost. Giveaway materials can be distributed by existing staff. And the same staff can fulfill an information function at the same time as they are engaged for other purposes.
- Voter information and education materials on display at election sites identify the site and make it more visible. Voters are drawn to the site and thus one of the primary purposes of voter information--to ensure that people know where to go--and one of the primary purposes of voter education--to ensure trust in the process and the administration--are served while other objectives are also being achieved.
Educational Impact of General Offices
It is perhaps obvious that polling sites can be locations for information and education (see Voting Sites). Perhaps it is less obvious that goverment administrative offices, registration centres, or counting and tabulation centres can serve similar purposes (see Election Authority Offices and Counting Stations). It may also be less obvious that they will do so whether or not election authorities intend it. The locations of offices and centres, their accessibility to the public, the service which is rendered, and the pride with which an office is either prepared or merely thrown together all convey lessons for the voting public. To the extent that they are visible and seek to make themselves understandable to nonvoters, they also serve to increase awareness and, therefore, the number of possible voters in future elections.
