Thus security, in one form or another, is an issue from the time initial preparations for an election commence. Voting operations security measures discussed in this section need to be integrated into the overall security operations for the complete election process. Voting Site Security Security for the operation of voting sites can be a complex exercise, particularly in higher risk environments, due to the dispersed nature of the locations which need to be secured. It is also costly, both in terms of providing secure equipment and materials and a safe environment in which voters may vote. Thus there is a responsibility on security planners to ensure that cost-effective responses are provided to the level of risk assessed as surrounding the voting process.
Security is a high cost exercise.
In some respects the true cost may not always be apparent to electoral administrators. Low Security Risk Environments There are countries for which the peaceful determination of continuation or transfer of powers of governance is an established tenet of societal behaviour. This limited security involvement will still require coordination and planning with the electoral administration. Even in such societies, with little or no threat of election-related personal or property violation, open and transparent elections demand some level of administrative security measures to be in place to ensure the integrity of election materials production and handling, the protection of data, the safeguarding and secrecy of ballots, and the deterrence of fraud and manipulation. At the other end of the spectrum, societies in or emerging from intense or violent conflict or characterised by a high degree of distrust among political participants may require very close integration of election administration and domestic or international security forces' activities to enable an election to be conducted with disruption kept to a minimal level and the integrity of election materials assured.