Comelec hopes for automated barangay, SK polls in future
Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday that he is hoping for the passage of a law that would allow the conduct of an automated or hybrid method of voting in Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in the future.
'Sana magkaroon ng batas na para isama o yung ninanais ng iba na magkaroon ng tinatawag na hybrid — may manual na, mayroon pang automated. Susuporta kami sa ganoon. Una, hindi naman ganoon karami ang iboboto sa barangay…so hindi ganoon kahaba yung babasahin katulad ng sa national at local elections,' said Chairperson George Garcia said in an interview.
(I hope there will be a law to include it or what some are wishing for, which is hybrid voting — there is manual and there is automated elections at the same time. We will support that. Because in the first place, there are only a few positions to vote for in the barangay...so the canvassing of votes is not that long like in the national and local elections.)
The upcoming BSKE on December 1 will be done manually, which means the public will cast their votes by writing the names of their bets for barangay captain, members of Sangguniang Barangay, and chairperson and members of SK.
Garcia pointed out that having automated BSKE will not only produce faster results, but it will also safeguard electoral board members and canvassers from any threats.
'Kasi kapag mas mabilis ang resulta, hindi 'yan tumatagal nang magdamag o hanggang kinabukasan…walang violence, walang ballot box snatching, wala yung mga intimidation, threat, o kaya pagkamatay,' he added.
(Because when the results are faster, it won' take overnight or until the next day...there will be no violence, no ballot box snatching, no intimidation, threats, or even death.)
Comelec conducted a pilot testing of automated BSK polls in three areas in Dasmariñas City, Cavite in 2023. Garcia said the barangays were able to proclaim the winners within an hour.
However, the Comelec official said that some people still prefer writing down their votes.
'Sa bandang huli, may reason din kasi, aaminin ko kung bakit manual ang eleksyon sa ating barangay…kapag barangay gusto talaga sinusulat ng mga kababayan natin ang kanilang boto. Ayan naman, kinikilala natin ang bagay na 'yan. At siyempre mas matipid kapag manual na halalan,' said Garcia.
(I must admit that there's a reason why the elections in the barangays are done manually. It's because many residents still prefer to write down their votes. And we recognize their preferences and manual elections would save us money as well.)
The Comelec earlier launched on Friday the KAISA Project to kick off the preparations for the December polls. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
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