iVote, iBlog – The Cebu Bloggers Society, Inc. 2010 Election Coverage

The first automated election in the Philippines

It’s final. No more doubts, no more suspicions. The final batch of Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) Systems has already been delivered. Smartmatics hit its target without delay. And the Philippines will certainly conduct its first automated election this May 10, 2010. Though some of our countrymen still criticize the poll automation with prejudice, the 2010 Philippine Presidential Election would be a success if every one of us just do everything right.

The clock is ticking. Candidates are already on its campaigns. Here, we are going to share with you what we’ve learned from the Political Arena during the PCOS Demo to the Cebu Bloggers Society.

The forthcoming election will be automated. But everyone shouldn’t worry about it. Even if you are not that techy- simply put that what are really going to be automated are: counting of votes, updating the tally, vote authentication, and the canvass.

How are you going to vote?

Here is what you need to do when you’re already at the precinct:

1. Get a Ballot Secrecy Folder from the COMELEC personnel. The folder contains a SINGLE ballot together with a pen.

2. To vote, shade the oval beside the name of the candidate of your choice. In shading, you should have to fill the entire oval. Don’t “over-vote” for a particular position, or else your vote won’t be counted.

3. Once you’re done voting, proceed to the PCOS machine. Insert your completely filled ballot into the machine, and wait for a few seconds until your vote has been registered.

4. You can confirm if your vote has been registered from the LCD screen on PCOS machine. Then let the COMELEC personnel mark your right index finger with an indelible ink. Then you’re done!

Things you need to remember:

1. Make sure to bring your voter’s ID or any valid national ID.

2. Draft a list or “kodigo” of whom you’re voting for.

3. Always remember that you’ll only be given a single ballot. Thus, make sure to avoid any error on the ballot.

4. Again, don’t over-vote. Check the list below for possible number(s) of candidates you are going to vote for a particular political seat.

• One(1) President

• One(1) Vice President

• Twelve(12) Senators

• One(1) Congressman

• One(1) Governor

• One(1) Mayor

5. You may not bring any ballpen or marker though, as the COMELEC personnel will provide it to you.

iVote, iBlog

This campaign aims to bring fresh 2010 Election updates through blogging.  Our members, who came from different parts of Cebu, will personally blog the happenings in their local precincts.  Web 2.0 (i.e . microblogging, social networking) will also be playing a great role in this activity.  Every blogger in Cebu is also encouraged to participate.

For more 2010 Election articles, you can check the following sources.

• Philippines’ First Automated Election by Agnes E. Jimenez
• How To Vote this May 2010 by Debbie Rojonan
• Voters Education for 2010 May Election by Jun Rey Parajes
• Voting Guide for 2010 Presidential Election by Nick Nichelle Dael
• Voting Process in 2010 by Guada Conception F. Esmeña
• How to Vote Using the PCOS in the 2010 Presidential Election by Jan Mack Hilado
• How to Vote in the 2010 Philippine Election by Kevin Ray N. Chua
• The PCOS Machine by Karen A. Veloso
• Political Arena Initiates PCOS Demo by Gerrymie D. Tampus

Written by: Bert Padilla of Cebu Tech Blogger