The downside of the automation of our election
By TheAdvocate
@TheAdvocate (2392)
Philippines
May 17, 2010 7:00am CST
Since most of the local candidates and some senators have been proclaimed, there seems to be a lot of politicking these days. Whereas before, most candidates would still be on their toes contemplating their fate in the elections, now they are have all the time jockeying for power. The talk nowadays is centered on who will be Senate President and Speaker of the House. And we still have a month and a half to go before the assume office. As there are no more results to watch, people are getting antsy and looking for evidence of cheating.
With the automation of the election, maybe we should amend the law to adjust the timeline. Do you agree? Do you think we should go on automating the elections as this seems to be a national sport? Are you annoyed or amused by all the politicking going on? Maybe a gag order should be issued? Let me hear your thoughts.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@rsa101 (41117)
• Philippines
18 May 10
Yeah I guess now that the counting was made faster, the proclaimed candidates now are scampering to get the top post in the their respective offices. I think that is just but natural since many have already been proclaimed they have more time lobbying themselves now so that when congress opens it would be easier for them get what they want.
As to automation, I think they just need to make the voting a bit faster than it used to be. I was traumatized to experience 4 hours waiting before I could cast my vote. That I think should be made faster since the voting can be done fast.
@TheAdvocate (2392)
• Philippines
18 May 10
I was just hoping that we could have a month of peace from politicking while they gnash their teeth waiting for the results. It looks like there is activity in the crocodile pen again, scamper for the pork barrel.
Like you I hope that voting will be faster next time. I hope Comelec learned from their mistake here.
@jamed28 (1903)
• Philippines
18 May 10
Actually this automation of election for me is not that automated. They even spend a lot by simply producing a printed ballot form and transporting them to the four corners of the country. And for me that is the downside of this election. If I were to automate this election, I'll be using a program that will use a touch screen monitor, where all the candidates will be display and a voter will just choose from it. These program can incorporate multimedia for so that it can easily interact with the voters. This may be to advance, but the mere fact that we accept computerized election that uses printed ballot form, is just as similar with the one I just suggested. At least, it will lessen the expenses. This is just an opinion
@TheAdvocate (2392)
• Philippines
18 May 10
That technology may be too far away yet. :-) Probably in the next elections... Even in the US, that technology is not available yet. Despite what television is showing these days, touchscreen technology is still expensive.
@LetranKnight25 (33117)
• Philippines
17 May 10
Hello there,
Isn't there any difference from past 2004 and 2007 elections, from what i can recall, there had been longer politicking when the manual elections is still being used, ballot issues, more vote buying and a lot more violence back then.
the talks took months and more issues on possible cheating..the MEDIA just wants to spice it up so that people will watch them
but i admit from some volunteers that there are areas of still cheating that the media didn't report
@TheAdvocate (2392)
• Philippines
17 May 10
Well, in the previous elections, there would be a lot of talk on the counting going on. The politicians were all focused on the counting and possible cheating. Now, all that has been shortened. They are now confident since they have been proclaimed so there is a lot of time spent jockeying for positions.
You're right, there is a lot of talk now on cheating...
@mercedlegurpa (955)
• Philippines
17 May 10
I believe automation is a must for our election next time. It's faster compared to the conventional manual process. But there should be some laws to make the automation transparent; like in dealing with the technical problems. What should be done to speed up the process and should be done to make people believe that the results are credible. There should be transparency of course. I'm used to Filipino politicians; they blabber a lot. They are good in debates and grand standing or even more interested in gossips so people will notice them. I hate them when they are ask about a certain issue, they replied with a sense of humor like a comedian. They think they are part of entertainment industry.
@TheAdvocate (2392)
• Philippines
18 May 10
I guess a lot of people are still paranoid about technology. I agree that there should be some sort of transparency. The Comelec tried to do it but balked at giving out the source codes. I think pretty much the problem was not the machines but more of the people's paranoid suspicion.
I was hoping that the blabbing would be lessened. Whereas previously, there would a lot of finger-pointing and allegations of cheating, these days politicians are concentrating on power struggles for the term. Ahh, so tiring...
