The disadvantages of the periodic list include:
- The periodic list has a significant cost spike. The costs of registering voters is highly
focused during the registration period, rather than being spread throughout the electoral cycle
(that is, in the full period between elections).
- With the entire voter registration process focused on a relatively short time frame, the risk to
disruption due to unpredictable weather events or political events is increased.
- The periodic list, particularly when used in Westminster-style parliamentary elections,
provides a short time frame for gathering information and making necessary changes. It is often
the case that a rushed job, dictated by the imperative of completing the preliminary and final
voters list in preparation for the election campaign, and the election itself, leads to a compromise
on the quality of the information and the list.
- The periodic list may require a longer campaign period, if the list is being constructed
during the campaign.
- The spikes in developing a periodic list can be difficult for some governments to absorb.
Governments can often handle modest increases in budgets. However, the funds and resources
needed to properly carry out a periodic registration can severely strain an already overstretched
government budget.
- The processing of all voter registration data, collected over a short time frame, places heavy
burdens on other support areas, such as data entry, or information processing. The period of time
it takes to perform data entry sometimes requires that the registration take place well in advance
of the election. This may result in persons who turn 18 after registration takes place and before
the election to be disenfranchised unless corrective steps are taken to include them in the voter
register.
