"FIRST TIME"
Yesterday, May 10, 2010, The Filipinos experienced the first ever "automated election" in the history of the Philippines. I, myself, is very proud that I've been a part of that big event! The automation really made it easier for all of us, except for the long queue of people outside the polling precincts. I guess none of us anticipated that it would create such a stir. Me and my brother took more than two hours just to get through... My dad, being a senior citizen was lucky enough that he had not gone waiting for a long time.
"THE BALLOTS"
The ballots are very different from the usual plain paper that we used to write on. It's harder, longer and it has color now. Instead of writing the names of the candidates, we are instructed to shade the oval shape figure corresponding the candidates' names. We have to shade it properly or else our votes will be void or be rejected by the machine. I'm tensed and quite nervous while shading my ballot, coz the Ovals are kinda small. I have to be very extra careful!!! The PCOS (PrecinctCount Optical Scan) machine is very sensitive. It will not read ballots that has extra markings and are slightly folded.
"CONGRATULATIONS, YOUR VOTE HAS BEEN REGISTERED"
It took me 3 minutes, I guess, to cast my vote . After shading, I immediately went to the PCOS machine where a BEI ( Board of Election Inspector) was standing by to assist me. As my ballot was being entered into the machine, I felt a sudden rush within my body... Keeping my fingers crossed, I'm praying that the machine will accept my ballot... And voila!!! After validating, my first ever automated ballot was not rejected!!! Weeeeee!!!! =)
" COUNTING AND CANVASSING"
The counting of ballots is also far different from what we used to do during the manual elections. Aside from the machines giving us the numbers, We can't see poll watchers walking around the classroom, checking if the votes for their respective candidates were really counted and we didn't hear them protesting or fighting with the teachers . In other words, it's more peaceful!!!
"TRANSMISSION"
The transmission of the election returns or ERs was really fast. It only takes less than 10 minutes to get the result. The Election officially ended at exactly 7pm. Minutes after it closes, some precincts have already transmitted their Election Returns. After several hours, we already knew which candidate has the upper hand!!!
The Automation really made it easier for all of us but, like all machines, they are also capable of malfunctioning, In order for us to say that we really have a successful election, it's up to us, HUMANS to be vigilant and to be truly responsible.
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