2022: An inflection point for our democracy
by Paco Pangalangan originally published in Philstar.com The last year has been a tough one for democracies. According to Freedom House’s Freedom in the World Report, it is the 15th consecutive year of decline in global freedom. Another recent report from the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance noted that the number of countries moving in […]
Automation for a more secure, credible elections
Automation for a more secure, credible elections Democracy Watch supports the automation initiatives of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for 2022. As the national elections draw near, the COMELEC has been ramping up its preparations and refurbishing the vote counting machines (VCMs). Learnings from 2016 and 2019 have allowed the Commission to improve the […]
The Value of Voter’s Education
Democracy Watch calls on civil society groups to ramp up voter education efforts now that voter registration has ended. With the widespread disinformation the country encounters today, it is necessary to engage the public and remind them of the value of choosing the right leaders. Because of the mobility restrictions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, […]
Elections in the New Normal: Ensuring Democracy Goes On
The Philippines is entering a unique period in its history, with its first ever nationwide elections to be conducted in the middle of a pandemic. As such, Democracy Watch calls on every stakeholder in the country to do their part to ensure a free, fair, credible, and safe election this coming 2022. We call on […]
Upholding Democracy in a Pandemic
Upholding Democracy in a Pandemic: A Statement on the Extension of Voter’s Registration Democracy Watch commends the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for its en banc decision to extend the voter registration period from October 11 to 30. Earlier this week, COMELEC resumed voter registration for the 2022 National and Local Elections. The additional days […]