Tips to remember on the October 25, 2010 SK, barangay elections

Oct 24, 2010 by Bukidnon News in Announcements

I must admit, a lot of people have been telling me that they do NOT have any plans whatsoever to vote on Monday, October 25, 2010 – the day of the Sangguniang Kabataan and Barangay elections. They say that they’d rather spend the entire day with their family at home or go to the nearest mall. I find that very sad. Not only have these people forgotten their right to suffrage and its power but they have disregarded their obligation, their responsibility as a citizen of this country.

Aren’t electoral exercises every Filipino’s chance to participate in the whole democratic process?

So please — please VOTE on October 25, 2010.

Use your right. Exercise your power. Choose your candidates wisely. Very, very wisely.

Given that, here are some tips that you might want to remember on the day of the SK and barangay elections:

– the October 25 barangay and SK elections will be MANUAL. You can’t find any PCOS machines at the precincts. Hence, we go back to manually writing the name/s of the candidates you want to vote

– the voting will begin at 7 a.m. and will end at 3 p.m.
– write the name/s of your preferred candidates clearly and legibly. Avoid erasures.

– do not forget to have indelible ink placed on your finger
– if you can, monitor the counting of votes to ensure fair elections

Meanwhile, here are some tips you might want to consider when choosing your candidates:

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) spokesman James Jimenez shares:

In the context of the Barangay, that basically means that if your barangay has:

uncollected garbage;

no deep-well pumps during el nino;

a high incidence of dengue;

no typhoon preparedness provisions;

a high crime rate;

frequent floods; and

similar problems

then your democracy is broken. These basic services are the responsibility of the Barangay officials. If your community is suffering from these problems, then you have to take a long hard look at the Barangay officers you have. Because that’s what’s at stake here: the well-being of your barangay.

Personally, I have 3 simple tips to share with you.

I do not like it when:

1. candidates fashion their streamers and other campaign paraphernalia ON trees. I do not appreciate it when candidates or their volunteers hammer campaign stuff ON helpless trees. Candidates should always, ALWAYS remind their volunteers about this;
2. candidates do not follow COMMON POSTER AREAS. It’s part of the rules of the COMELEC. If a candidate cannot follow simple rules, then there’s seriously something wrong with him/her and you, as a voter, should carefully think if that person deserves your valuable vote;
3. candidates, particularly re-electionists, try to use their incumbency as they campaign. Re-electionists must NEVER use barangay or SK funds and other government owned properties when they campaign. Re-electionists must NEVER use barangay vehicles, barangay-owned sound system and the like.