Do you agree that it has changed?
By basqui
@basqui (3888)
Philippines
May 12, 2010 3:42am CST
The first automated elections in the Philippines has definitely changed the processes of knowing who the winners are in the national and local elections...
One big difference it has made in the process is that it only took less than a week for the national elections to have the results of the counting from all of the provinces in the Philippines and it only took a day or two for most of the cities and municipalities and also in provinces to know who the winners are.. It is because there is no need to count what's written in the ballots and having to tally each vote made in every candidate.
Despite the unexpected delays and problems during the voting processes, I could say that the automated elections is a success because it has taught candidates to accept defeat and concede even if the counting is not yet finished.
What other changes have you observed because of the automation?
2 people like this
9 responses
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
12 May 10
Most of the presidential candidates already conceded except for Erap. On the VP count, Binay is hinting that he will only lose if he is cheated. In my opinion a politicians mindset that there are only two outcomes of the election in this coutry are those who win and those who got cheated. I can see that that kind of mindset has changed as far majority of the presidentiables is concerned. On the VP, Binay still have that mindset. I guess some habit are hard to break. Although a lot of improvements are necessary, overall, i can say that our first automated elections is a success.
1 person likes this
@LetranKnight25 (33117)
• Philippines
12 May 10
cheated?! he talks like Noynoy now.but except that noynoy prefers to finish the count before it is proclaim, and i believe binay should do the same. binay is fine but some how i have some uncertainties. but compare to him, i believe bayani is even more better, except the fact that he is a lawyer where we need an engineer to make necessary good infrastructures.
1 person likes this
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
12 May 10
Binay is acting like a trapo. But let's see how he performs. I hope he can deliver what he promised. He has been able to perform well as mayor because he has a cash cow named makati CBD, now that he will perform on larger scale let's see. I don't question his sincerity or his credibility. Based on the election count he is likely to be our next VP so like Noynoy it's our duty to give him our full support and let him do his job. As far as Bayani is concerned, i think he fits to head the DILG in a years time.
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
12 May 10
Oh, The results on TV are still partial but it's not far from the total results I think. But we don't know til all results from the provinces from far places are transmitted to the central server.
Erap is still a die-hard presidentiable lol, well we couldn't blame him for doing so because he's the nearest one after Noynoy so I think he has still hope until all results are finally counted..
Binay had made Makati a better place as it's seen on Tv. Well if he gets to be our VP then let's hope that he gets all Filipinos to say "Ganito Kami sa Pilipinas!" 
Well, whoever is seated as our leaders, let's give support fully. A country couldn't be successful if the citizens doesn't have faith and support to its leaders..
Well, whoever is seated as our leaders, let's give support fully. A country couldn't be successful if the citizens doesn't have faith and support to its leaders..1 person likes this
@LetranKnight25 (33117)
• Philippines
12 May 10
I don't know.
the only changed that i knew was in this election because it was so fast that we got the results in less than twenty four hours, even though it's partial, it's very very clear who is the winner in this political race.
probably the change that took place was with me when i chose Gordon, i learned a lot from him and see the reality that i haven't seen before. makes me said but i have been awaken@LetranKnight25 (33117)
• Philippines
12 May 10
No, i don't regret on voting him. in fact am happy i made the right choice for the first time
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
13 May 10
The reason for automation is to speed up the whole voting and counting process.. AT the same time, it's being used to minimise any human counting errors as well.. So, there wont be any reasons or excuse for anybody to ask for a recount..
BUt if there's only a slight difference of a few thousand votes between two electors, there will definitely be a recount again.. hehe ^_^ Because sometimes, machines can get it wrong too, if voters did not make their votes clearly, and machines cant read them well.. haha =D
@juggerogre (1653)
• Philippines
12 May 10
I agree with you that the results are out much much faster compared with manual count. Some local election results are out the day after election. And we will know our next president in 1 or 2 days. But regarding cheating in election I don't know. Automation cannot solve vote buying. And it also didn't solve the long queues when its election time, in fact it worsen it in some areas. Anyway I'm still helpful that its a big success and congrats to all the winners.
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
12 May 10
That's true, there were still vote buying in some places but at least there were no cheating on the counting process. In those places that have vote buying, I think the citizens should be the one to be blamed for having such candidates. They should report such politicians instead and not patronize them. They will be the ones to suffer anyway if those corrupt politicians get in the seats. They will surely get those money they paid them from the paople's taxes,isn't it? Poor Philippines!!!
@ritsuizero (140)
• Philippines
13 May 10
I think another major change is that there are not much people accusing others that they cheated. There also no that much complain about the comelec doing a bad job and that they want a recount. Hopefully this continues and that they continually improve the process.
@Civic_Racer (33)
• Philippines
13 May 10
yes i do agree. this is a sucess. even other machine malfunction, they can still work it out. maybe the next election will be smoother
@nanayangel (7877)
• Philippines
12 May 10
Hi there Basqui!
I think that the new generation of voters made the difference. there were lots of skeptics but still, the voters did what needs to be done, try their best to cast their votes and have them counted, and made the results accessible in such short time compared to the length of counting and other related tasks before. What I also admire was the participation of people in guarding their votes. The people that are willing to cooperate with the authorities, take evidences of irregularities and things done by candidates that were against the law. I can say that this election was a success. There were problems but they were minimal considering that it is the first time that we utilize this kind of voting system. Credits to Richard Gordon, the reason why we have this automated election in the first place.
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
12 May 10
Yeah, thanks to him... If not for him the Philippines would have been still on snail-speed-counting processes.
Yeah, it's good that in this election, every Filipino has been active in all aspects, voting, guarding and reporting the irregularities observed.. Kudos especially to the youth who have been there from the start of the campaign period..
Mabuhay Pilipino, Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!!
@doryvien (2284)
• United States
12 May 10
Hi Basqui,
Despite the glitches, I do agree that the country's first automated election is a success. In a matter of days we already know the winners, and it was clear that fraud was very minimal, if at all present. I just hope that along with this change in the election process comes the bigger change that we all wish for - better governance, a sound economy, a better country.
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
12 May 10
Yeah, thanks that it was minimal glitches.. Yeah fraud are not really done like the old counting processes in the past where dagdag-bawas was rampant..
Pray for the Philippines to have noticeable change after these new leaaders are seated. Let's have faith and them and hope for the best!
@kenites (337)
• Philippines
12 May 10
The other changes I observed aside from the fast counting because of the automation is the hassle and long lines you're going to endure before you can cast you vote. Aside from that I think the election went on smoothly despite the little glitches from the machine.
@basqui (3888)
• Philippines
12 May 10
There were longer lines because of the clustering of precincts.. They should have anticipated the volume of voters that will go in every precinct. They should have lessened the number at least so that there would have been no longer waiting in lines,.
Generally it is a success so let's be proud on out first time of having a poll automation that was done successfully.
