The human threat

NOW that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Dagupan City is under a cloud of doubt, particularly its newly-appointed head Remarque Ravanzo, it needs to demonstrate that it is doing all to ensure that there will be no cheating in the May 2013 election. And demonstrating means taking action – not merely using words because talk can be cheap.

The Liberal Party, for its part, has not merely thrown accusations at Ravanzo and made public noise about their dissatisfaction over his handling of the registration of voters, particularly in the last days before the October 31 deadline. The LP filed a formal complaint to the Comelec to demonstrate its seriousness in pursuing a credible election process, which is crucially grounded on a clean list of voters. Its opponent group, the Nacionalista Party, is also complaining, according to Ravanzo himself. But well, that’s only his word. The NP has not taken any action on its supposed grumble.

It is not just the city election office that needs to get its act together. The supervising offices at the provincial level, and ultimately the national level, must not take formal complaints in stride. An investigation and a resolution must be pursued because the human factor (i.e. Comelec officers and staff) in the electoral process is still the biggest threat to a truly credible election. The Comelec’s semi-computerized system is relatively new, and even that has been subject to questions. The credibility of the election still rests largely on the integrity of its Comelec custodians.

Dagupan, where the opposing candidates and parties are in a heated race in the only independent component city in the province and considered the commercial and educational center, is just one case in point.

How many more city and municipal Comelec offices are suffering from the same credibility problem?

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American pride

THE queues were long and, if it were here, could be blood-boilers. But that was your American election on November 7 (Manila Time). Nothing weird there. Actually, with scenes like that, democracy was merely very much alive in America. No voter complaints after falling in line for nearly five hours before he could cast his vote. Part of the game, culture if you will. Voters are very much relieved — no, ecstatic — that within minutes after a poll booth is closed, the vote-counting is over. In precinct levels, Obama is the winner in 30 minutes or less. Why? Well, America is so advanced that an election process has become merely peanuts to them. What really stands out is the American pride in the electoral act.

They queue for hours because they believe in the sanctity of their right, freedom, to vote. They don’t sell their vote, that’s why. But over here?

Your answer is as good as ours.

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