Civic and Voter Education
Voter information refers to basic information that enables qualified citizens to vote. That is to say dates, times and places for casting your vote. It also includes type of election being held, identification necessary to establish eligibility, registration requirements and the various mechanisms for voting. Election authorities are typically required to provide this type of information, although in some instances contestants and civil society also do so.
Voter education addresses voters’ motivation and preparedness to participate fully in elections, information concerning the voting and electoral process. It further explores concepts such as the links between basic human rights and voting rights, roles/ responsibilities and rights of the voter, elections and democracy. It goes on to expand important aspects such as the secrecy of the ballot, why each vote is important and public accountability.
All these concepts involve explanations and not just stating of facts. Seeing as this is the case voter education requires a lot of time to be spent on it that’s why it should be an ongoing process.
Civic Education looks into the broader concepts pegging a democratic society. For example the respective roles and responsibilities of citizens, the government, political and special interest groups, the mass media, business and non profit groups. All of this is looked at from the significance of periodical and competitive elections.
This process should be continuous and not specific to electoral cycle.
Voter information and voter education may be one component of the wider topic of civic education. Civic education can be carried out through various systems such as schools/ colleges, civil society, state agencies and in the case of NICE, as a project.