There are important similarities between the periodic list and the initial voter registration drive in
establishing a continuous list with regard to worker training and selection. To review the situation
for the periodic list, see Worker Selection and Training.
However, there are also a number of ways in which staff selection and training differs with the
continuous list. The differences include the following features:
- The continuous list needs more ongoing staff. One of the main characteristics of the periodic
list is the need to hire large numbers of employees as enumeration officials or registration centre
staff during the registration spike, and to dismiss these employees when their tasks have been
completed, often within several months of starting their employment. Very few employees under
the periodic list system remain with the election authority following the registration drive. Under
the continuous list, the requirement to maintain the system necessitates the ongoing employment of
a number of staff.
- The larger number of staff retained on a longer term contract provides greater opportunities
for professional development programmes, and generally a more professional approach to voter
registration management.
- Larger numbers of staff retained for longer periods of time means a greater likelihood that
more staff will have received training, or could receive training, in election management
procedures.
- A more professional staff will be better prepared to accept the responsibilities for list
maintenance, tracking, and auditing.
- The continuous voters list is more likely than the periodic list to be computerized, although
either system could be managed without computerization. Increased computerization of voter
registration procedures places a significant burden on the election authority to be able to service
and upgrade the computing equipment, a fact that also necessitates more long-term staffing.
Depending on the size of the budget for the registration initiative, the issue of worker selection
and training may be cast in terms of volunteer or quasi volunteer, recruitment, and training. For
example, in Bangladesh a citizens group was created to help with the development of the voters
list.76 Similarly, in Cameroon, joint commissions of election officials and political party
officials were appointed to oversee the registration process.77
