Trust, training and a harmonized legal framework are the building blocks for a successful implementation of technology in the election process – an IFES analysis of the Philippine approach.
The public thirst for rapid and objective results has increasingly led countries to adopt new technology in the electoral process. Automation is often a complicated process, especially in countries with limited infrastructure, and where frequently the attention of decision-makers gets overwhelmingly focused on technical aspects. Technology, impacts all aspects of elections, including those that might at first seem immune, but eventually may lead to unintended consequences.
Some common and unanticipated consequences might be remedied by considering the following steps when introducing automation:
Trust in the Electoral Process. Electoral management bodies (EMB) should consistently work to build trust in the electoral system. Technology, however, can undermine that trust. Not understanding how a ballot is cast and how it will be transmitted and counted can lead to mistakes, irregularities, and complaints and thus to public mistrust. To be effective, standards need to be identified well ahead of time and the public needs to learn about the new system through a dedicated campaign. Depending on the size of the country, this campaign needs to be massive and multilayered to ensure the vast majority of voters receive the information and would also require the EMB to provide adequate human and financial resources.
The Philippines will introduce new technology – optical scan voting machines – during the May 2010 elections at its 76,340 precincts; home to over 50 million voters. Ongoing technical challenges have led to an overwhelmingly critical media environment. As a result, Filipinos exhibit uncertainty about the new system: based on an IFES commissioned poll, 66% of citizens state that they have heard little or nothing about how it operates. Public education efforts now need to dedicate massive resources to counteract these trends if they are to avoid the whole electoral process being undermined.
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