On September 24, 2020 the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) presented its budget to the House of Representatives. In summary, just over 14 billion pesos of their proposed 30 billion budget was granted. This budget was intended not just for the regular operations of Comelec but also for its preparations for the upcoming 2022 elections.
In the process of interpellation, members of the House raised a number of concerns and proposals. Of these, two stood out. First is a suggestion by ACT Teachers party-list to consider the use of hybrid elections, or the use of both manual and automated counting. This was raised on the grounds of supposedly increased transparency. The second, and more controversial proposal, was a suggestion from Rep. Mike Arroyo to postpone the elections in the interest of public health.
These suggestions are alarming, to say the least.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a slowdown, if not a regression, of democratic processes across the world. It has triggered widespread militarization, stoppage of court processes, excessive control over the press, and passage of questionable legislation. Given this sweeping global trend, delays and alterations in electoral processes are a clear and pressing threat to the core of Philippine representative democracy.
On the point of hybrid elections
The 2019 election results faced its share of criticism, and the COMELEC admitted that the concerns stem from three minor areas that need improvement, particularly SD cards, Vote-Counting Machines (VCMs), and transparency server glitches. However, these issues were small and did not affect the overall election results. The high trust ratings that the administration continues to enjoy is proof of the credibility of the elections and the reliability, security, and speed of automation.
Legislators and the general public must remember that human intervention in the counting of votes increases the risk of election fraud. The proposed hybrid system still has a significant window of opportunity for human interference, and is thus vulnerable to manipulation. Although results are electronically transmitted, the old tactics of coercion and bribery can still be mobilized to tamper them.
As we are in a time of crisis, there is also the matter of cost. Hybrid elections would cost over Php 24 billion, making a considerable dent in our already depleting funds.
Above all, the Government must heed the sentiment of its people. In a Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Democracy Watch and Stratbase ADRi after the 2019 elections, 87 percent of Filipinos said that they were satisfied with the automated polling system or the use of VCMs. They expressed their trust in the results from automated elections (84-percent), this was even higher than the 74% trust rating recorded following the 2016 elections. Furthermore, an overwhelming 91 percent of Filipinos are in favor of the continuous use of automated elections.
Democracy Watch Philippines cannot help but beg the question, why should the Philippines take a step back from a trusted, credible, and peaceful automated election system towards a system that for decades has proven to be a source of corruption, fraud, and even violence?
The choice between health and democracy
Our democracy cannot go on hold. Thankfully, other countries have given us an opportunity to adopt best practices and continue to pursue our elections while maintaining public health and safety.
Both South Korea and Singapore, considered as model countries in handling COVID-19, have successfully pulled through with their scheduled in-person elections. This has been done through careful coordination, implementation of safety measures, and well-placed investment. For example, in South Korea, all voters have had their temperature checked on arrival and have been required to wear masks and gloves. In Singapore, the Election Department invested in additional voter registration machines to implement better physical distancing.
We would do well to adopt these practices. Investing in more VCMs, proper PPEs, and temperature scanners is no doubt more cost-effective than the projected Php 24 billion that an overhaul would cost.
In addition, efforts and resources that would otherwise be focused on manual counting, reworking the system, and overall logistics can instead be channeled into smoothing out the minor issues found in the 2019 elections and implementing proper health protocols.
Moving towards a democratic post-COVID 19 future
It is contended by some that we as a nation must make the hard choice between democracy and health. This need not be the case. With proper coordination across sectors, transparent policies, and the use of appropriate technology, we can have both.
More pessimistic groups have posed the question of democratic survival in a time of equally rising opportunism and ravaging crisis. Democracy Watch Philippines stands by its belief that democracy will not only survive the pandemic, but is necessary for our successful hurdling of this multifaceted crisis.
Entire economies, educational systems, and daily customs have gone on pause because of the pandemic. We cannot afford to let the same happen to elections, the cornerstone of our democratic governance.
Democracy must go on.