To ensure political equity and fair elections, voters need access to balanced and reliable information about all aspects of the election:

• if they need to enrol, how and by when
• when and how to vote on election day
• where, when and how to vote in advance, if they need to
• what they have to do in order to cast a valid vote
• how votes impact the result so they can vote in the way most likely to contribute to their preferred outcome 
• information about the candidates or parties.

Candidates also need to know that they are eligible to contest the election, and how to go about registering their nomination, and contesting it.

Access to information

To ensure that all participants have access to the information they need may require more than simply providing such information in a written form.  The concept of equal access is interpreted differently and hotly contested in political debate.  At the liberal end of the spectrum is the view that if everyone has the same information and the rules do not discriminate, then all have equal access.  At the interventionist end of the spectrum is the view that all are not equal at the start of the process in terms of capacity, including self confidence, and so some people need greater assistance in order to have equal access.

If the system operates towards the interventionist end of the spectrum, material will be provided in a variety of ways.  To ensure access for those who do not read the official language(s), information may be provided in other languages, pictorially or in audio form.  Information may simply be made available for those who seek it, or there may be an effort to deliver it widely.

Ability to participate

There may be attempts to build the capacity to participate of those who are less likely to take part in elections.  For instance, in the 1980s in New Zealand and many other developed democracies, women’s organisations ran courses to provide assistance and support for women thinking of contesting an election.  Capacity building can also assist voters to develop the self confidence to vote.  In particular it is important that people perceive the process to be easy to understand and to do, and that it is not time consuming.  It is also important that people trust that the election is fair and that they will not be intimidated when taking part.

Sources of information

The election management body has a responsibility to provide much of this information.  The extent to which it addresses issues of equal access will vary by country and over time.

Often other organisations also play a role in getting information out to potential voters.  During an election campaign the media usually provides basic information on when and where to vote and how the system works.  Parties and candidates often deliver basic information to assist their supporters to vote.  Organisations working for or with particular groups may provide information and capacity building for their members, to encourage their participation.

Most information about parties and candidates comes from themselves, rather than the election management body.  In order to ensure some equity between contestants, most countries have laws about campaigning.  Many countries, including New Zealand, specify a cap on spending to ensure that the campaign does not become too financially driven.  There are usually rules about what can be said, too, such as restrictions on negative advertising.  Some countries impose a time for reflection by banning all campaigning in the day(s) immediately before polling day.  In New Zealand, campaigning is banned on election day itself.