Senior, young citizens among most enthusiastic voters
The senior citizens and the young were among the most enthusiastic and early voters during the May 10 first ever automated elections.
Poll watchers and the members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) observed that many senior citizens and first time voters and young professionals were in their voting precincts even before seven in the morning of may 10.
Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) Assistant Coordinator Fr. Mark Senina said the PPCRV volunteers have assisted so many elderly and disabled voters who were casting their votes amidst the heat, discomforts and initial glitches in the voting.
Senina said it was also notable for some people to give way for the aged and the disabled to vote first.
He also noted that the PPCRV voters’ assistance desks helped much in assisting the elderly voters to find their precinct numbers.
Despite the fact that they were a bit slower in shading and seemed nervous with the PCOs machines, still they showed interest to try and expressed joy when they succeeded.
The PPCRV Asst. Coordinator also noted that young and first time voters flocked to the precincts as early as they can, in contrast to their lackluster participation in previous elections, when they were obviously uninterested.
Senina said because the young are technology/electronically savvy and can readily understand the process and protocol of the PCOs machines, they are faster besides the fact that they also can shade the ovals with ease.
He added that the experience of the first ever automated elections in the country is made more significant with the enthusiastic participation, of the young and the old, who both voted for a brighter future.
The BEIs in many congested voting centers were all saying that the long queues and the full voting precincts indicated the comparatively high turn-out of voters.(PIA6/ESS)
