COMELEC urged to conduct massive voters' education campaign

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has been urged to conduct an intensive nationwide voter's education campaign to ensure the success of automated polls in 2010
by Senator Richard J. Gordon.

Gordon, author of Republic Act (RA) 9369 or the amended Automated Elections System Law, pointed out that the country's first modern election is very important, its success hinges on the people being able to vote, and their votes counted.

"Automated elections will get the country out of the political rut that it has fallen into. It will bring back the people's voice in choosing the country's leaders," he said.

"Hence, ensuring that voters will know how to cast their votes in next year's political exercise is of great importance. This will prevent voters from being disenfranchised or their ballots being spoiled," he added.

During the Comelec's budget hearing in the Senate, officials of both the Comelec and winning contractor Smartmatic International - Total Information Management (TIM) have assured that they will conduct massive tri-media ad campaign to educate voters on the mechanics of the automated election.

The Comelec further disclosed that they are organizing a road show, to be conducted by election officers from all the different regional offices of the poll body, to complement the tri-media ad campaign.

The road show will be an on the ground, barangay level voters education program aimed reach voters who do not frequently watch television or listen to the radio.

Gordon, however, recommended that the Comelec should educate all Filipinos and not just the registered voters, which totaled 45 million as of July 2009.

"The voters' education campaign should reach all Filipinos. Do not limit yourselves to the registered voters only," he told Comelec officials.