The Role of Political Parties and Interest Groups
Voter registration involves several stakeholders. Citizens and the government's election
administration apparatus are the most obvious stakeholders. But a number of other stakeholders
have an interest in the outcome of the voter registration process inasmuch as it may effect the
election outcome. These stakeholders include the government, the military, political parties,
interest groups, social institutions such as the church, foreign governments, and international
organisations.
Registration and System Legitimacy
One of the primary objectives of a voter registration system is to increase the legitimacy of the
election outcome. The perceived legitimacy of an election rests largely with these stakeholders.
It
is for this reason that election administrators find it in their interest to develop open and
transparent
processes of voter registration, and to welcome the involvement of certain stakeholders in
overseeing the registration process.
Foreign Interests
Foreign governments, foreign nongovernmental organisations, and international organisations
fulfil
an important role in providing assistance in democratic election administration, and by supplying
international election observation personnel and services. Providing an international stamp of
approval can go a considerable distance in ensuring that an election is viewed as a legitimate and
definitive statement of the will of the people.
Domestic Interests
Domestically, the stakeholders may feel they have more at stake than international observers in
the
election process and outcome, and they are right. Because of the stakes involved control over
the machinery of government some may be tempted to play a role of more direct involvement in
the election process rather than providing oversight and contributing to system legitimacy.
Wherever possible, it is best to provide encouragement for all domestic stakeholders to facilitate
the development of fair and impartial election administration machinery and practices. Often the
international community, with the assistance of the international election observers, can help
convince the domestic stakeholders of the wisdom of enabling fair and impartial practices to be
implemented.
Gaining importance in providing election oversight and system legitimacy is the use of domestic
election monitors, often in conjunction with international observers. A discussion in
Elections
Today illustrates the role that domestic election monitors played in the Nicaraguan
election.57
