RES GESTAE
One vote has power (4)
(A series of thoughts and perspectives about May 10, 2010 national and local elections)
Does my vote really matter? Like me, many Filipinos may sometimes doubt the impact of their one, solitary vote during elections. And maybe this is one reason for many Filipinos to remain apathetic with the upcoming May 10, 2010 elections.
The upcoming election is a milestone in our history as a nation. It is an opportunity to effect change in our government. But it is disheartening to realize that many of us think that our one, solitary vote is insignificant in our pursuit for change. This is not surprising though. The results of previous elections seemed to tell us that regardless of whom we voted, a corrupt and calloused leader still gets the power. This must be so because of alleged rampant cheating by those who have guns, goons and gold.
So, will this May 10, 2010 elections make a difference? Will the fully automated election system (AES) render our one, solitary vote justice?
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is saying that AES will not only make our election process efficient but also resolve the issue on cheating. The AES will lessen the human intervention in the counting and tallying of votes, the phase in the election process where cheating usually occurs. Commendable!
However, while the Comelec addresses the efficiency in the counting and tallying of votes, the success of the election is not guaranteed.
We have heard reports on failed field tests of Precinct Optical Scan units due to problem on signal, an indispensable element for this AES to work.
A survey also showed that 7 of the 10 Filipinos (or 71%) have less awareness or unaware of the new voting system.
With less than 70 days before the May 10, 2010 elections, mind-boggling questions regarding the AES are running in our minds. Will this AES really work for the best interest of the Filipinos? Are we ready to face and accept the outcome of having this AES? Will this AES make us feel that our one, solitary vote matters this election?
Despite the efforts of the Comelec and other advocacy groups to make everyone feel confident with the AES, many of us can’t still help but think that this May 10, 2010 is still a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”.
But I am in a contention that while we have so many doubts and fears regarding the AES, we still have no reason not to cast our one, solitary vote.
It is my conviction that the first thing we should do to dissipate our doubts and fears regarding the results of this upcoming elections is to go out of our homes, go to our respective polling precincts, cast our votes for candidates whom we believe can best represent our interests, and guard our votes.
