Page 191 - Conducting Elections during COVID-19

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES 173

Harmonization of legal provisions with the public health safety regulations is important. Many of the
countries who have conducted elections during COVID-19, have developed well harmonized Safety
Protocols. Enforcement of the Safety Protocols is equally important.

Voter Education

Voter education connects citizens with elections. Information, awareness, motivation and facilitation,
the essential components of voter education focus on maximization of voter registration and
participation by all categories of voters. Voter education campaigns work on the premise of ‘No Voter
to be Left Behind’. COVID-19 safe elections would require integration of clear, accessible and frequent
information to voters about COVID-19, its modes of transmission, and ways of combating it; follow best
practices in health literacy through multimedia campaigns. Voter education may also include clear,
accessible and frequent information to citizens about new electoral procedures and how to comply
with them.

Training

Training methodology has to adopt multimedia , online training through IT driven tools to ensure that
the guidelines for social distancing and other COVID-19 safety measures are adopted in imparting of
training. The personnel under training may be given detailed instructions as a part of training content
especially the modes of transmission and preventive measures

Polling Station Management

COVID-19 safety protocol for polling station management is important. Movement of voters as per
social distancing norms, disinfection of premises, sanitization of all possible surface contact points at
frequent intervals, masks, gloves, sneeze shields etc all have changed the shape of the polling station.
Change in the size of polling stations for complying with social distancing norms especially the room
where polling is conducted has been followed in many countries. Observance of safety procedures
comes as an additive to the poll process and in turn slows down the polling. Polling hours have been
extended in many of the elections. It may be necessary to carry out Time-Motion Studies to ensure
optimization of poll process in the new environment of safety restrictions.

Use of indelible ink is another area that needs to be considered for safety. Sanitizers and indelible ink
are alcohol based liquids. Therefore proper procedural precautions may be necessary.

Another area that needs to be considered is how to manage COVID-19 positive cases if they turn up for
voting. Segregation of polling hours, separate polling stations and auxiliary polling stations have been
opted for spreading out of voters.
Costs of Elections

For implementation of COVID-19 Safety protocols, certainly more funds are required. Proper estimates
for the purpose and matching budgetary provisions have to be made in advance. Additional funding
for elections, especially when economies have been hit badly, poses a challenge for poor countries.
More on COVID-19 Safe Elections

It may be stated that the discussion on issues and challenges has to be a continued exercise. India
A-WEB Centre has organized a Webinar on the subject on 21st September, 2020 where interactions
will focus on the subject. The next Issue of VoICE International, the quarterly magazine, is also based
on COVID-19 safety theme and will be out soon. It carries interesting articles on the subject from
international community and will be hosted on India A-WEB Centre for readership.
India A-WEB Centre intends to continue its tracking of COVID-19 and will share more knowledge
resources with the A-WEB community.