Election authorities need to consider ways in which their own offices can be used to promote elections and contribute to voter education and public confidence.
The Message of the Building and Staff
The headquarters of the election authority are likely to be seen as a symbol of the electoral process. The outward appearance and internal decor of the building can communicate the serious, nonpartisan, and professional approach that is appropriate to elections. Spaces that appear disorganized, poorly maintained, intimidating, or extremely grand can all create negative perceptions of the election authority and the electoral process.
While elections authorities in many developing and transitional settings may have little or no control over the buildings that they are assigned and may have few resources to devote to making the space more workable, public accessibility and a professional and helpful staff can go a long way to create positive impressions.
A Place for Education
In addition to these implicit messages, authorities may also want to consider more explicit ways in which they can assist in the educational programme. Such explicit ways may range from displaying posters and banners outside offices to notice boards, material distribution centers, or resource/information centers in public places within the building and visitor programmes where educational programmes are conducted on site.
Where the latter is possible, these programmes may vary from simple workshops requiring only public advertising and a seminar room to exhibitions and outreach programmes. Such programmes provide a regular and ongoing locus for educational programmes in support of elections; and those election authorities that are able to raise budgets for these programmes are extremely fortunate.
Even the smallest office, however, can display a poster, can house a small exhibition of voter education and elections materials, or have an information desk where the public can obtain leaflets or other information products. It is important that the approach to such displays be educational rather than bureaucratic. The purpose is to inform and educate the public, not to overwhelm them with the importance or minutiae of election administration. Election authorities will need to consider ways in which they can train their staff to establish such public information programmes. And they will want to reward them for initiative in ensuring, at relatively low cost, that their offices are providing a service to the public.
