ON AUTOMATION AND 2007 ELECTIONS 6 June 2007

6 June 2007

“After 23 days and 2 postponed proclamation dates, still only 10 out of the 12 senatorial candidates are ready to be proclaimed according to the Comelec. The last two are stuck in limbo. When will they see the results?”

Senator Richard Gordon, sponsor of Republic Act 9369 which provided for election modernization, posed the question to the Comelec, which after 3 weeks has failed to release the complete 2007 election results.

“We have an antiquated system, characterized by a dismayingly slow count where the legitimacy of results is always questioned. The country held its first elections in 1935 and we have not moved since then.”

“Likewise, the reported incidences of election violence are alarming. This year alone, there were 217 violent incidents, 126 of which resulted in death, and in some cases policemen themselves were involved in shootings. The rule of law is being replaced by a culture of violation of the law.”

“This is why we need to modernize the electoral system A.S.A.P. It could’ve been done in a few areas last May 14, even as proof of concept. I would have welcomed it in Olongapo, at nandiyan din ang Davao, ARMM, Sulu, Basilan, Isabela, Negros, Bacolod, Cebu, Cagayan, Nueva Ecija, or Quezon City.”

“We live in a world where speed is the norm. A fast count plus instant electronic transmission of results means less human intervention, no time for dagdag-bawas, and less opportunity for election violence. Fast, seamless, secure, peaceful, credible, honest elections. That is something we can be proud of.”