By Chelsea David
In the upcoming Halalan 2022, Pauline Dela Paz, an advocate and content creator of Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) Philippines, reminded first-time voters about the events for May 9 elections.
In a voter’s education webinar on April 22, Dela Paz shared with the participants about the new process for the election day due to imposed restrictions caused by COVID-19 pandemic.
According to her, there will be a temperature check in the triage and if it goes beyond 37.5 degree Celsius, a voter will be separated to the Isolation Polling Place (IPP). Those who have COVID-19 symptoms will also be referred there.
However, those who have no symptoms, voters may ask the procedures at the Voters’ Assistance Desk (VAD).
Dela Paz also added that when voting, ensure that the ballot is neat without any marks or any torn piece of it.
After voting, the voter is expected to go straight to the Vote Counting Machine (VCM) to make sure that the ballot is printed.
Dela Paz said that if there are objections, “You can tell them but do not joke as it may cause electoral offense [for you].”
The last step is to have an indelible link dabbed on the forefinger nail of the voter.
When asked what to do if the precinct call of the voter got lost, she answered that the COMELEC has its own biometrics to recognize that person, so voting is still possible.
After the discussion, Dela Paz advised the participants about voting for a competent leader, “The [national] position has an effect on the future generations kahit sa apo sa tuhod mo pa.”
In terms of misinformation and disinformation, fake news as referred by Dela Paz, she emphasized, “Ang pagboboto ay para sa pagbabago sa pamamagitan ng tamang impormasyon.”
“Not everyone is intended to share fake news but as out of memes. [But] some people may unwittingly become victims of fake news (memes)… Para sa ‘yo joke, ‘yung sa iba katotohanan,” she warned when sharing on social media.
Voters may generate their “kodigos” for election day through this link:
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2022/mykodigo/?s=09
