Continuous Voters List with Periodic Cutoff
Two general principles may be followed in the production of a definitive voters list. The list may
be updated at a certain cut-off point, and the list that is deemed to be valid at that point may serve
for a predetermined period of time. Alternatively, a list may be updated continuously, at any time,
and is finalized only as an election is imminent. Britain uses the former system, in which the
election authorities update the voters list annually, and for the next year, voters are eligible in the
constituency in which they resided on the qualifying date. In contrast, in St. Kitts, a new voters list
is produced in the middle of each month, and it serves as the valid list for the next month.
Continuous Voters List with Election Cutoff
In many other settings that use the continuous list, changes to registration can be entered and take
effect on a continuous basis throughout the year, with the definitive list published at a cut-off
point preceding an election. A variant on this is that many lists are used in such a way that updates
are continuous until an election is called (i.e., the write is issued, the election countdown begins).
A preliminary list is produced, voter registration centres are created, updates are processed until a
certain closing date, and then the list for the election is produced. If registrations are taken at
early voting and regular voting, they are added to the list immediately after the election. A final
list may or many not need to be produced and then list maintenance resumes.
In this way, the data remain as current as possible up to the cut-off date. This latter approach
requires a larger number of employees working year-round at the election authority to facilitate the
continuous entry of data. The argument in favour of this approach is that it improves the quality
of the list by having a steady state of maintenance, rather than by trying to do massive updates
when an election is called.
Distribution of List
Because the voter list is an important element in ensuring the legitimacy of elections, it is crucial
that the list is made continuously (or at least in practice, that the most current list is generated at
various times for political parties and that it is available for scrutiny throughout the year), and that
the final, pre-election voters list is made available in a timely manner, preferably free of charge, in
the period leading up to the election. Special efforts should be made to provide the list to parties
so they can be assured of its validity and can use it in their election campaign activities.
Use of the Voters List by Parties and Candidates
The voters list serves not only the election administration authority by providing the definitive
statement of the eligibility of each voter. It also serves political parties and candidates by providing
them with the names and contact information (normally street address) of all individuals who are
eligible to vote for them during the upcoming election. Political parties and candidates normally
are involved in significant canvassing efforts to identify which voters support them, and to provide
campaign literature to all potential voters.
Some political parties will merge the voters list with their own party membership and supporter
lists, and with the telephone directories to obtain phone number links. The phone is becoming the
standard of communication and political party canvassers face the same problem that voter
registration officials face, namely that people do not want to open their doors, or they are not
home when the parties canvass.
Parties and candidates also use the canvassing activities for several other purposes. Canvassing
provides them with an opportunity to solicit volunteer help or financial support for their election
campaign. Voters are sometimes asked during the canvass whether they are willing to have a
campaign sign placed on their property, or to work to convince their neighbours and friends to
support the candidate or party. Modern canvassing techniques are used by candidates and parties
to identify the likelihood that each voter will support them during the election. Voters could be
identified as very likely supporters, possible supporters, or very unlikely supporters, and the
candidate's campaign strategy may differ for each voter type. For example, the support among
committed supporters is often nurtured by providing reinforcing information. In contrast, the
campaign strategy for possible supporters may be much more, including personal visits from the
candidate. Voters who are very unlikely to support a candidate may be ignored altogether, in the
hope that little contact will make then less interested and involved in the election, and possibly less
likely to participate. Parties and candidates also use the information of voters' likelihood of
supporting them to offer assistance, including rides to the voting sites, for the voters who are
identified as likely supporters.
National and Local Campaigns
Campaigns in many democratic countries have significant national as well as local elements. The
national campaigns, which often are launched over the major media outlets of radio, television,
and newspapers, are independent of the parties or candidates having access to complete voters
lists. However, for the local campaigns, which often feature door-to door canvassing as a key
element, the voters list plays an essential part. This fact often helps ensure that parties and
candidates are active and in many instances very welcome contributors in creating the environment
necessary for a good quality preliminary voters list.
