Closing Date Depends on a Variety of Factors
The goal of a voter registration initiative is to develop a comprehensive voters list, which is as
current and accurate as possible at the time of the election. There is no single date for the
closing of registration that is suitable in all cases. Rather, the decision on when to close the
registration period will be unique to each jurisdiction or situation and will depend on a number
of factors. One consideration for the use of a voters list, including the use of the preliminary list,
is the nomination of candidates. It is common that candidates be nominated by a number of
eligible voters, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. Where the nominators' eligibility as
voters requires confirmation, a voters list or preliminary voters list must be in place.
Election Timetable
The most useful approach to establishing a cut-off date for the registration period is to start with
the date of the election, and then to work backwards, factoring in other key elements of the
electoral event. How much time before the election, for example, should the parties or
candidates have at their disposal the preliminary and final list of electors? Should they have it
one week, one month, three months, or some other period prior to the election? In addition, how
much time is required for the revision of the preliminary voters list? Will the revision court sit
for a day, a week, two weeks, or longer? How long will it be from the completion of the work of
the revision court to the production and distribution of a final voters list?
If the notices can be processed efficiently, the number of appeals is small, and the hearings are
all relatively brief, this may take a very short time, perhaps a day or two. However, each of the
factors could increase considerably the time required for changes. How much time is required
from the completion of the preliminary voters list until the commencement of the activities of
the revision court? And finally, how long will it take to register all voters and produce the
preliminary voters list? Many democracies allow for the possibility of registration on polling
day, even at the poll itself. The elector may be issued a regular ballot or may be issued a form of
ballot which is placed in a special ballot envelope and kept separate from those placed in the
ballot box.
Be Realistic
The production of the final voters list is the ultimate task of the registration initiative. The
periodic list increases the risks of failure by compressing the completion of many aspects of the
voters list into a short time period, usually immediately preceding the election. It is inevitable
under such a system that the pressure to perform will be very high, especially as the date of the
election draws near. While wishing to produce a voters list that is as complete, current, and
accurate as possible, it is also important to be realistic about the logistical challenges involved in
producing this list, including the administrative capacity of the election authority, both at the
central and local levels. Election administrators must have sufficient resources, such as material
and personnel, in order to meet this challenge. In some cases, it does require an established
infrastructure within the society or government apparatus that can respond to these demands. In
the event the time required to produce a voters list is miscalculated, it is best to err on the side of
being somewhat more lenient and forgiving rather than being more stringent and demanding.
