Responsive to Local Conditions
Voter registration is not a uniform process that will accommodate any given situation. Rather, a
variety of mechanisms are available for facilitating a comprehensive and inclusive voter
registration process depending on local political, social and economic conditions. The precise
mix of system characteristics that are applied in a particular setting will need to be responsive to
these parochial features. Typical local considerations that must be factored into the design of a
specific voter registration program include:
- literacy
- culture
- climate
- administrative infrastructure
- political environment
Literacy
Literacy rates have a direct bearing on the ability of election administration officials to
communicate with potential voters. Where literacy rates are high, voter registration can be
accomplished easily through relatively efficient and economical communication between
election administrators and voters. In a setting with high literacy rates that uses a continuous list
of voters, for example, election administrators may mail voters a card indicating their current
registration information. Voter can then simply review the accuracy of the printed information
by reading it and, if necessary, send in amended information by return mail. This practice, of
course, also depends on a dependable postal system with individualized household delivery.
But even in countries with a high literacy rate, this infrastructure may not always exist. And
where literacy rates are low, this procedure is even less appropriate. In these cases, there would
likely be a need for personal contact between election officials and voters to complete the
registration process, as well as for community leaders to play a major role in providing
information about the registration process. Even in countries where the overall literacy rate is
high and personal contact with registration officials is not required, care must be taken to ensure
that registration forms are easy to understand and not encumbered with legal jargon that may not
be understood by average citizens. In other words, voter registration forms should not be a
literacy test for registration. Where literacy rates are low, then, it is worth considering a system
in which registration officials fill out the registration forms, either through door-to-door
interviews or at registration centres.
Culture
All societies have cultural norms, values, beliefs and attitudes that define appropriate behaviours
among members of the community. At times these norms may have a bearing on what is
deemed appropriate behaviour regarding electoral activities, including voter registration. When
designing procedures for voter registration, it is important that the processes are sensitive both
to social norms and to the requirements of democratic governance. One issue of cultural
significance in many societies, for instance, is the role of women in the political process.
Electoral systems that embrace universal suffrage usually ensure that women have the same
opportunities as men to register and to vote as individual citizens. By the same token, societies
with significant cultural, ethnic or religious minorities may refrain from holding elections on
their religious holidays.
Climate
Like social and political factors, climate has a different impact from one setting to the next. In
countries with more highly developed economies, climate may have little effect on registration
and voting. Much of the registration process may be handled through electronic means and
highly computerized. Such highly developed democracies often have highly developed
administrative infrastructures to facilitate registration even under adverse climatic
circumstances. In the Canadian federal election of June 1997, for example, the election
proceeded unabated despite the fact that the southern third of the province of Manitoba was
experiencing a significant flood disaster during the election campaign. Voter enumeration in
this case occurred several months prior to the flooding. Similarly, Hurricane Andrew struck
Dade County, Florida, in the United States, during an election campaign in 1992.34
In lesser developed areas, weather or other climatic conditions may have a greater impact on the
scheduling of registration and elections. The impact of factors such as drought, the rainy season,
planting or harvesting all could affect the ability and likelihood of citizens to register to vote.
Registration events may have to be rescheduled to accommodate these overriding climatic
events.
Administrative Infrastructure
A critical issue election administrators face is whether a significant administrative infrastructure
is in place to accomplish the desired registration objectives. The administrative framework
includes such things as capacity for overall administrative planning and logistical planning (see
Legal and Administrative Framework and Logistics), registration data collection (see Registration Data Collection), procurement policies and
procedures (see Procurement), an operative infrastructure (see Voter Education ), worker selection and
training (see Worker Selection and Training), and the staffing necessary to implement all of the above (see Implementation).
Establishing and maintaining this administrative infrastructure is both costly and
time-consuming. But without an appropriate infrastructure to conduct the voter registration
initiative, and the election itself, the process may lack the legitimacy and integrity that
democratic elections are designed to confer on governments. Another key goal in establishing
the appropriate administrative infrastructure is that it has a continuing life and impact and is not
created de novo for each election.
Political Environment
Obviously, the overall political climate of a country can have a broad impact on voter
registration and elections. The political environment can range from completely peaceful, with
all parties accepting the legitimacy of the electoral process, to an atmosphere fraught with
domestic or international conflict. And between these two extremes, the possibilities are
relatively endless. Most desirable, of course, is that the registration and election process be
conducted in a harmonious political climate, but this is not always possible. When it is not,
questions of fairness of legitimacy are almost certain to arise. The most useful response to a less
than ideal political environment is to ensure, as far as possible, that election administration is
fair and impartial and that it is perceived as such. And it is always useful to provide all political
parties an opportunity to observe the transparent administration of the election.
