Isabella Carter
The practice of banning political campaigning before or during an election is known as election blackout or election silence. While some countries like Poland, Nepal, and Slovenia forbid campaigning on election day, it is allowed in others like the United Kingdom. In the UK, campaigning is not allowed inside polling places on polling day, and broadcast media cannot report on any campaign activity until voting closes. However, candidates and parties can still campaign intensively, and print and digital media have no additional restrictions. The goal of election silence is to give voters a chance to reflect without external pressures before casting their votes, but some countries, like Bulgaria, have ruled that it violates the right to freedom of speech.
Can political parties campaign on polling day?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Campaigning on polling day | Banned in some countries, e.g. Poland, Nepal, Slovenia, Australia, New Zealand, etc. |
| Election silence | Prohibits political campaigning or media coverage of a general election, before or during that election |
| Publication of opinion polls | Illegal during election silence in some countries, e.g. South Korea, Spain |
| Broadcasting rules | Varies across countries, e.g. no reporting on campaigning in the UK, ban on TV and radio advertising in Australia |
| Campaigning near polling stations | Limited in some countries, e.g. the US |
| Campaigning methods | Includes knocking up, telling, delivering campaign literature, etc. |
| Postal voters | Reminded to vote, but strict rules prohibit party interference |
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What You'll Learn
Campaigning on polling day varies by country
In countries like Slovenia, Poland, and Nepal, it is forbidden to try to convince people to vote for a specific candidate or political party on election day. This practice, known as "election silence" or "electoral blackout," is aimed at giving voters a chance to reflect without external pressures before casting their votes. During this period, active campaigning by candidates is prohibited, and the publication of opinion polls may also be banned.
On the other hand, countries like the United Kingdom and the United States allow campaigning on polling day, but with some restrictions. In the UK, while polling stations are open, broadcast media cannot report on any campaign activity, and exit polls are prohibited until voting closes. However, candidates and parties can still campaign, and print and digital media have no additional restrictions. In the US, the Supreme Court has ruled that campaigning can only be limited in a small area around the polling station on election day.
Other countries have varying approaches to campaigning on polling day. For example, Australia bans TV and radio advertising from midnight on the Wednesday before polling day until the close of polls. New Zealand has a shorter blackout period, lasting from midnight until 7 pm on election day. The Philippines prohibits political campaigns on Maundy Thursday until Good Friday, as well as from midnight of the day before the election until election day.
The variation in campaigning rules on polling day across countries highlights the balance between maintaining a free voting environment and upholding the right to freedom of speech. While some countries prioritize the former, others, like Bulgaria, have ruled that electoral silence violates free speech. Ultimately, the regulations aim to ensure fair and transparent elections while respecting the rights of citizens and political parties.
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Campaigning in polling stations is forbidden
In some countries, campaigning on the day of the election is banned. This is known as "election silence" or "election blackout". The goal of this practice is to give voters a chance to reflect, without external pressures, before casting their votes. During this period, no active campaigning by the candidates is allowed, and polling is also banned.
In the United Kingdom, campaigning inside polling stations on polling day is forbidden. Broadcast media cannot report on any campaign activity while polling stations are open, and it is forbidden to publish an exit poll or anything resembling one until voting closes. However, candidates and parties can still campaign outside of polling stations and in other locations, and print and digital media have no additional reporting restrictions.
In the United States, the Supreme Court has ruled that campaigning can only be limited on election day in a small area around the polling station. This means that campaigning is allowed to take place outside of a certain radius from the polling station, but not inside the station itself.
Other countries that have some form of election silence or blackout include Australia, Malta, New Zealand, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Ukraine, and Bulgaria. The specific rules and restrictions vary from country to country, but the common theme is a period of time before and/or during the election where campaigning is prohibited to give voters a chance to reflect and make an informed decision.
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Campaigners remind voters to vote
Campaigners use several strategies to remind voters to vote and reinforce their party's message. One common strategy is "knocking-up", which involves calling or visiting voters to remind them to vote and encourage them to vote for a particular party. This can be done over the phone or in person, and it is often targeted at people who are already planning to vote for that party or who might be open to switching their vote.
Another strategy is to have party campaigners stationed at polling stations, known as "telling". These campaigners may wear rosettes to reinforce their party's message and make a note of who has voted (if voters are happy to reveal this information). This information can then be used to exclude people from the list of those being called or visited, making the process more efficient.
In addition to these in-person strategies, campaigners also continue to distribute campaign literature, such as leaflets, letters, and digital messages, on polling day. This is because some voters may still be undecided or may change their minds at the last minute. Campaigners also remind postal voters to return their ballots, although there are strict rules about how much interaction party supporters can have with this process.
The specific strategies used by campaigners can vary depending on local customs and traditions. For example, in some places, it may be considered acceptable to ask voters who they are supporting on their way into the polling station, while in other places, it may be customary to wait until they leave. Additionally, the rules and restrictions on campaigning can vary between jurisdictions. In some countries, such as Slovenia, Poland, and Nepal, it is forbidden to try to convince people to vote for a specific candidate or party on election day. In other countries, such as the United Kingdom, campaigning is still allowed on polling day, but broadcast media cannot report on any campaign activity, and there may be restrictions on reporting exit polls.
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Campaigners target close seats
On polling day, campaigners target close seats by employing a variety of strategies to influence voters' decisions and secure additional votes. Here are some key tactics used by campaigners to target close seats effectively:
Knocking-up: Political parties engage in knocking-up, which involves calling on voters or reaching out to them through phone calls to remind them about polling day and encourage them to vote for their party. This strategy serves a dual purpose: encouraging supporters to vote and persuading undecided or tactically-minded voters to vote for them. Campaigners carefully select the individuals to target, including those who have signed relevant petitions or expressed support for parties with low chances of winning.
Telling: Campaigners station party members, often wearing rosettes, at polling stations to remind voters from their lists (known as the "shuttleworth") to vote for their party. This tactic is particularly effective in areas where the party has not had a strong previous presence. The presence of tellers reinforces the message that the party is active and worth considering.
Delivering Campaign Literature: Political parties continue to distribute leaflets, letters, and digital messages on polling day to influence voters who may still be undecided or open to changing their minds. This strategy ensures that voters receive a constant stream of information and persuasion up until they cast their votes.
Targeting Close Seats: Campaigners analyze data from knocking-up and teller activities to identify wards that are either comfortably won or lost. They then redirect resources to focus on close seats, where extra votes can make a significant difference between winning and losing. This strategic allocation of resources can be crucial in tight elections.
Reminding Postal Voters: Postal voters, who cannot vote in person, are included in the lists of people to contact. While there are strict rules against party interference in the postal voting process, campaigners ensure that postal voters are reminded to return their ballots to the relevant authorities.
By employing these tactics, campaigners can effectively target close seats on polling day, maximizing their chances of victory, even in marginal constituencies.
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Campaigners use phone calls and leaflets
Campaigners use a variety of tactics on polling day to encourage voting and promote their party. One common method is the use of phone calls, which can be an efficient way to reach out to voters, especially those who are geographically dispersed. This is known as "knocking-up" and involves reminding voters about the election and encouraging them to vote for their party. It is important to have an updated list of contacts, excluding those who have already voted, to make the process more effective.
Another tactic employed by campaigners is the distribution of leaflets, letters, and digital messages. Even on polling day, some voters may still be undecided or open to changing their minds, so campaign literature can play a crucial role in influencing their decisions. These materials can be tailored to different formats to ensure accessibility for all voters.
The use of tellers, or party campaigners stationed at polling stations, is also a strategy. Tellers can make notes of who has voted, provided voters are willing to reveal this information. Having tellers visibly wearing party rosettes can reinforce the message that the party is active and worth considering. However, the acceptability of certain teller practices, such as asking voters who they are supporting, can vary depending on local customs and Returning Officer traditions.
While campaigning is allowed in many countries on polling day, some jurisdictions implement an "election blackout" or "election silence." This involves banning political campaigning and media coverage before or during the election to give voters a chance to reflect without external pressures. Countries like Poland, Slovenia, and Nepal prohibit trying to convince people to vote for a specific candidate or party on election day. The UK also has restrictions, with broadcast media refraining from reporting on campaigning while polling stations are open, and no exit polls allowed until voting closes.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on the country. In some countries, such as Poland, Slovenia, and Nepal, it is forbidden to try to convince people to vote for a specific candidate or political party on the day of the election. In other countries, such as the United Kingdom, candidates and parties can campaign on polling day, but there are restrictions on where they can campaign and what they can say.
In the United Kingdom, campaigning is not allowed inside polling stations on polling day. There are also rules about what is and isn't allowed in campaigning, for example, candidates cannot make false statements about another candidate's character or behaviour.
The restriction on campaigning inside polling stations is in place to prevent voters from being influenced at the last minute and to maintain a free voting environment.
Some other examples of countries that have restrictions on campaigning on polling day include Australia, which has a ban on TV and radio advertising from midnight on the Wednesday before polling day until the polls close, and New Zealand, which has a ban on campaigning between 00:00 and 19:00 on election day.
