Chapter 11. Civic and Voter
Education
Overview
Implicit in the concept of free choice is that of an informed choice. Credible
and transparent electoral processes must reflect the political will of the
voters. Voters can neither express, nor formulate their will without access to
information about candidates, political parties and the practical, procedural,
aspects of the electoral process. Well-organized, non-partisan information
programmes and unhindered distribution of political party information
are therefore critical elements of genuine elections. Legal frameworks are
required to ensure that EMBs or relevant public bodies take the necessary
steps to allow voters to make informed choices.
Civic education offers information and/or educational programmes designed to
increase the comprehension and knowledge of civil rights and responsibilities.
Civic education activities can also include specifically targeted training for
certain professional groups, such as police and security personnel, the media
and political parties, in order to prepare them for their respective roles in the
electoral process.1 In turn, voter education is defined as an activity that raises
awareness of the electoral process and the requirements and procedures for
voter registration, voting, and other elements of the electoral process. Finally,
voter information is typically implemented as short-term programmes that
focus on specific electoral information, providing relevant factual information
on a specific electoral process to voters on a timely basis.2 UN jurisprudence
requires all three elements above to ensure the effective exercise of ICCPR
article 25 rights by an informed community, as well as civic education in
public schools and elsewhere.
Non-partisan voter education should aim to inform voters as to the ‘who,
what, where, when and how’ of registration and voting. It can also help to
International Obligations for Elections 159