Editorial – Automated polls: Credibility, or bust

A very recent survey by Pulse Asia says at least 60 percent of Filipino voters have no idea what next year’s election automation is all about.
Many concerned citizens, a big number of them pessimists, if not people disenchanted with present-day electoral practices, express alarm over the situation.
The optimists, however, still marvel at the fact that 40 percent of the electors now know what poll automation is all about, and that this percentage can easily go up before election day in May, which is a good five months from today.
Yes, sirs and madams, it is like two people of  contrasting  dispositions looking at the same glass of water. One says glumly that the glass is half empty, while the other happily declares that the glass is half full.
Whatever, everybody agrees that a lot of work for the Commission on Elections and its allies still lie ahead. Indeed, all parties who view automated elections as something with utmost significance to our nation’s ailing democracy, say the Comelec must maximize its efforts and marshal all resources to educate the voters.
We realize that the credibility of next year’s elections will largely depend on the success of the automation program. Filipino voters, the old and cynical ones especially, have long ago been disenchanted with the present electoral system which allows the birds and the bees, and even erstwhile voters who are already six feet under, to vote or be voted for, thereby influencing to some degree the election outcome. In fact, some areas of Mindanao are notorious for “finishing the balloting” a day or two ahead of election day (poll automation, anyone?) It will be another national disaster if the coming automated elections fails, to the demonic glee of those who seek to discredit and destroy such a democratic process to the utter dismay of those looking forward to a really, really clean, honest and credible  electoral process – and to the disillusionment of our idealistic young and first-time voters.