An Experiment in May?

For the first time in Philippine history, we would have automated elections for our May 2010 national elections. Some see this move as a big leap for the Philippines, with faster election results and hopefully less attempts to disrupt elections. Some see this as an unprepared move for the country: instead of promoting the goals of democracy, we are facing doubt and uncertainty as to what would really happen to the votes we would have cast. 


Yes, our country is merely utilizing the innovations of technology for faster elections - since it is available to us. But we must also note that aside from the relatively or seemingly unpreparedness of our country to innovations (yes, almost all Filipino knows how to use a cellphone but surely not a computer), there are other technologies which may likewise be used by conspiring and good-for-nothing politicians who would only win because of cheating (note: during one of the recent automated elections testing, the transmission of poll results from polling precincts to canvassing centers were disrupted because there was no cellphone signal - and they have 3 simcards used? An NTC official admitted that cellphone jammers might disrupt the signals and thus, might this might be utilized by those who want to disrupt elections. As a response, COMELEC assured that there would be no failure of elections).





I am for automation of our elections. And I know that not everything could be perfect. However, this would involve our Constitutional right to vote and thus, I would not want my vote to be just a part of an experiment that our government would be conducting this coming May. 


(for more information about cellphone jammers and the recent test conducted, see http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=546590&publicationSubCategoryId=107)