One of the things Filipinos are most interested in is politics. In every election, the country comes alive with the blaring sound of campaign jingles, faces of politicians adorning every post of the streets and by their bickering on the television, newspaper and the internet. But with the advent of automated elections, politics in the Philippines is as interesting as it can get.
For the first time in the country’s history, Filipinos will get a taste of an automated election. Sure, the technology has already been tried during the 2008 ARMM Elections but automation in one area of the country is entirely different to its nationwide implementation in a synchronized presidential and local election. Furthermore, automation is only limited to tabulation of votes. The casting of votes will still be done mechanically. The voters shall be required to mark the name(s) of their preferred candidate(s) by shading the corresponding oval on a pre-printed paper ballots which will then be fed into a counting machine and tallied automatically. Nevertheless, this change in the electoral process had so far generated concerns as to its effect in the determination of the country’s next set of leaders that could only be resolved after the May 2010 Elections.
The Automated Election System (AES) primarily seeks to provide speedy and accurate results of the election and to eliminate cheating and other frauds. But these reasons are also the very source of the concern. The machines to be used being an electronic device also have weaknesses. Aside from the prevailing question of whether there are enough machines for the 50 million voters, these machines are also susceptible to breakdown e.i. failure to scan or to transmit results which could be a cause of delay or worse, disenfranchisement of votes. Another concern involves the transmission of election returns. The transmission will be done mainly through public networks which mean that it is prone to attacks of cyber criminals whose mission is to perpetuate fraud and alter the result of the election.
The path of our country has been trailed by tough times. It cannot afford another setback. That is why at this time, more than ever, we should get involved. It needs all the help it can get to ensure an honest and orderly election so that through the Automated Election System, the next set of leaders is reflective of the will of the Filipino people. After all, the voice of the people is the voice of God.
