Thursday, February 01, 2007 Editorials: Responsible voting
ASIDE from the usual posturing of candidates, one other sign that the election season is on is when groups preaching the gospel of responsible voting mushroom.
The usual advocates come from two sectors, the religious and so-called civil society, both of whom are honestly seeking changes in the country’s electoral setup.
There is sense and value in this advocacy considering the kind of elections we have, how politicians conduct the campaign and the temperament of voters.
The general feeling is even one of despair, what with the kind of politicians that have managed to squeak through the balloting in the past several years.
Easily observable are the personalities now populating the Senate, although it goes without saying that the problem has filtered down to the polls at the lower levels.
Effect on voters
But while advocacy for responsible voting is needed to arrest the downward spiral in the quality of elected officials, how effective the advocates are is another thing.
The faces of the people laying down guidelines on whom to vote in an election may have changed but the advocacy is not a new phenomenon.
And yet we still have to see its effect in the attitude of voters.
A few observations:
--Seasonal campaign, seasonal organizations. Educating voters, to be effective, should be continuous and organized. Setting up camp during elections and then leaving after the balloting simply won’t work.
--Shallow campaign. While the media and the pulpit are good platforms, these are simply not enough. Some follow through, especially down to the community level, is necessary.
Magnitude of problem
But then, that maybe asking too much from advocates of responsible voting considering their limited personnel, filled up mostly by volunteers, and resources.
The point there is to illustrate the magnitude of the problem and the need not only for the usual advocates but also for everybody to contribute.
Change in attitude, from one of resignation to being proactive, may sound idealistic but there is no other way to go if the goal is to help voters choose the better candidates.
The negative and pervasive influence of traditional politics in our electoral setup cannot be countered by honest advocacies haphazardly advanced.
