UPHOLDING OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS IS AN “ESSENTIAL”
A year away from the 2022 National Elections, Democracy Watch Philippines renews its call that democracy must go on.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced societies to rethink what is necessary for human beings to survive. In the Philippines, quarantine classifications note various degrees of “essential” and “non-essential” activity for the sake of public health and safety. And though the last year has tested the limits of the freedoms we are willing to give up, make no mistake, the Filipino’s right to vote is essential to our democracy, even amidst this health crisis.
Free and fair elections is the foundation of a democracy. As we have seen over the past year, countries such as South Korea, the United States, and Singapore demonstrated that voting during a pandemic is possible with the proper health protocols and the right technologies in place. The experiences of these countries are proof that a pandemic cannot put democracy on pause.
In anticipation of the continued public health crisis into 2022, our Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) is currently hard at work to prepare for an election in the “new normal.” These preparations include setting up health screening facilities at precincts, possibly longer voting hours, and fewer voters per precinct.
The COMELEC’s firm stance on the use of automated elections systems in 2022 is most welcome, as well. Studies show that 87 percent of Filipinos were satisfied with the automated polling system for the 2019 elections, while 84 percent expressed trust for the results. More than that, 91 percent of Filipinos said they favored continuously using automated election systems.
However, not only does automation ensure transparency and accountability in the electoral process, but it also drastically reduces the time and human contact necessary for the accurate counting of votes. Both essential factors to consider during the pandemic.
Democracy Watch is steadfast in its call that democracy must go on. We call on Filipinos to take an active role in upholding our electoral process. Let us support the COMELEC’s ongoing preparations and let us demand candidates and elections officials to ensure the safe, free, and fair conduct of elections in 2022.