They provide the public face of the entire election administration organization. By the same token, local office staff, enumerators and registration clerks at registration offices, may be abused if they are not properly prepared. Individuals involved in fraudulent electoral practices, for example, may attempt to circumvent the registration procedures on an unwitting registration official. Local officials need to have sufficient background information to answer commonly asked questions, therefore, and know when and how to defer questions to their supervisors when they do not know the answers. The specific types of workers required to complete the registration will depend on the method of data collection.
Enumerations use somewhat different frameworks compared to registration centres.
In some countries, the political parties or candidates may provide names of potential enumerators. In such cases, they may work in bipartisan teams or in another appropriate manner to ensure impartiality in performing their duties. When registration by mail is used, registration workers may function in a more anonymous atmosphere. There are, however, some common staffing requirements for each. At the head of the local organization will be a registration official, whatever the official title may be, who has overall responsibility for the successful completion of the registration in that district.