Election automation cannot push through

That is a sad thought to know that Election will become the way it used to be. I just hope they could manage to make the election clean and orderly this coming 2010. There are many stories buzzing around that the local partner was paid not to pursue it to stop Comelec's plan to push through with the automation of the election.

Years before the national elections, plans of computerization, upgrading election process are always proposed. Budgets have been raised and each time the election draws near, they drop the plan. Questions, were did the money go? What happened to the purchased electronic equipments? Why do government officials prefer the primitive way of voting? Is it easier to cheat?

What the !!!! It's really worrisome reading the recent development about the country's automated election program. What happens next if the automation will not be realized? Back to manual tabulation? Is COMELEC ready for that? Also, are there any consequences for the winning bidder in case they will not pursue the contract? Will our country be able to prosecute the Venezuelan nationals who own the Barbados company? And how about the Filipino counterpart who are closely associated with the President? (Again?) But I am still hoping things will be fixed between Smartmatic Corp. and Total Information Management (TIM) and the automation will be given a chance.

This is a very frustrating news... Though Comelec still gives hope to Filipino citizens that there is still a chance that the election automation will push through, there is already a very nil probability. If election automation will not happen, then expect again a very dirty election. I am very sad about it...