The voter registration methods set down in electoral legislation, guidelines or policies will also impact on how technology needs to be used in the voter registration process.
Voter registration can be active or passive.
Where voter registration is active, a process is needed to convert an application from an applicant into a voter register record. While this process can be conducted using an entirely manual paper based system, the various outputs required of modern voter registers generally dictate that an application for registration needs to be converted to an electronic form. Where voter registration is passive, registration is usually effected by taking electronic data from another source, such as a drivers licence authority or a national population register. This process is generally not practicable without the ability to use electronic data transfer. Voter identification requirements Electoral legislation will generally set down what, if any, proof of identity needs to be submitted by a person applying for voter registration.