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Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Foreign observers propose poll reforms
By Bong Garcia
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Asia Network for Free Elections (Anfrel) that fielded observers from six Asian countries to the Philippine elections has come up with a seven-point proposal for electoral reforms in the country's autonomous region.
Anfrel observers coming from the countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Thailand spent eight days observing the election period and the voting throughout the six provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm), visiting more than 500 precincts.
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Armm is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Marawi City.
Anfrel's seven-point proposed reforms point to the following: implementation and law enforcement; impunity for election offenses must be addressed; law on campaign finance should be enforced; overspending must be discouraged, and the source of funding should be clear; in order to cut down the cost of campaigning, senators could be elected by region rather than nationwide; provision of 1987 Constitution against political dynasties should be implemented by law to limit the number of politicians from same family or political clan; Comelec must be more professional and disqualify those who misuse their power; local election should be separated from the national polls to make the process more simple and transparent; and the law on electoral modernization should be implemented for counting to prepare for coming elections.
Anfrel's observations include some localities where the voting was properly conducted by all stakeholders. It said it appreciated the good media cooperation and coverage.
Voters' education
Unfortunately, voting in other localities in the Armm was not peaceful and orderly, Anfrel added.
"We observed the preparations for the elections at the local level, and the situation before election day by interviewing candidates, election and other government officials, non-government organizations, and citizens," Anfrel said in a statement Tuesday.
"We then observed election day, up to the counting of ballots," Anfrel added.
Anfrel pointed out some aspects for further consideration and discussion in the Philippines and among the other Asian democratic countries.
Anfrel is encouraging that lists of registered voters be made electronically available.
But the lists need to be made available earlier to ensure that voters know where their precinct is, and so that cross checking is possible particularly with the lists posted in precincts.
The observers noted that there was little voter education in the Armm as compared to other Asian countries.
They suggested that Comelec develop a comprehensive program to inform the people of the election process, and their rights and duties in a democracy.
Given the significant influence of clan politics and violence in the election process, Anfrel further suggests that civil society organizations should also be deeply involved in long-term and intensive civic education campaigns.
Campaign process
Anfrel said that it is important to enforce the law and to punish those government officials who use government facilities, vehicles, and staff to support the campaigns of incumbent candidates or parties.
"Ending impunity for election offenses would yield the single biggest improvement in democracy and the election process," they added.
Since in political campaigns there is always risk of conflict and violence, candidates and parties should not involve children in political activities, even though they may like to voluntarily join the campaigns or were hired.
The Philippines has acceded (in 1990) to the Child Rights Convention and thus all political parties have obligations to protect the rights of the child.
All candidates should respect the election law by not campaigning on the day before and polling day.
The Comelec should not allow poll watchers, voters and members of the parties to distribute campaign fliers for specific candidates inside or outside the precincts on election day.
Anfrel calls on all stakeholders in the Armm and all over the country to stop using violence to undermine the democratic process or gain their votes.
The supporters, poll watchers, members and party agents should not assist the candidates with unethical means like intimidation, harassment, discrimination, or revenge.
All candidates should perform their potential leadership with passion and ability to unite the country; they should not win the election by creating more conflict and hate.
Comelec, BEIs, and poll problems
There should be no exception in Comelec's exercising its power on election administration and implementation of the electoral law.
Comelec in all levels must perform its work effectively and transparently so that no candidate or party will be able to influence the Commission and its officers.
Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) should implement their role and authority to fulfill the work during election process and canvassing.
Both Comelec and BEIs who cooperate with the candidates and poll watchers to manipulate the voting and results must be punished and dismissed from their work.
All BEIs must follow the law and electoral process seriously.
There should be a consistent policy for the poll setting, polling and canvassing.
The Comelec must give the same instructions to electoral officers and BEIs.
Poll watchers should not be allowed to assist or intervene in the activities of voters during the election time.
The number of members on a BEI could be increased to more than three persons to compensate for amount of work on election day.
To make the voting process run in an orderly way, all voters should form a queue, and except for those illiterate and disabled voters no one should be assisted during the voting.
In urban areas, polling centers can be very crowded and chaotic, and the grouping of precincts in a single location means many voters must walk long distances to vote and often have difficulty finding their precinct within the polling enter.
Confusion and chaos make the polling and counting processes less transparent, potentially facilitating malpractice and diminishing credibility.
Secrecy of vote
Comelec should consider establishing no more than two or three precincts in any one location. For the convenience of the voters and more order, there could be more places set up as precincts or using tents for poll setting in remote areas.
In this manner voters can find their precinct easily, will not travel long distances, and can find their names on voters' list without difficulty.
The ballot secrecy folders and the layout of the precincts were ineffective in ensuring the secrecy of the vote. In many precincts poll-watchers sat within a meter of voters, and could easily observe their selections.
In several instances, we saw voters curling their ballots in an attempt to prevent poll-watchers seeing their choices. This lack of secrecy can be very intimidating, and can facilitate vote buying by allowing voters to demonstrate their adherence to a previously struck bargain.
The Comelec should replace the ballot secrecy folders with actual voting screens, as are used in other countries, and ensure that desks are far enough apart to prevent violation of the secrecy of the vote.
Voters who had completed their ballots sometimes handed them over to the chair of the precinct, who would keep them in a stack next to unmarked but folded ballots until he had time to register the voter and put the ballots in the box.
It is international best practice that after voters marked their ballots, they should retain that ballot in their possession until they can deposit these in the ballot box.
Too many precincts observed had candidate materials and candidates themselves hanging around polling centers. It should be made clear in law and regulation that this is unacceptable.
Voters' index fingers need to be examined to deter any person from trying to vote more than once. It was noted that most polling stations did not check the voter's index finger, whether it was already inked. And sometimes voters did not have their fingers inked after casting their vote -- this procedure should be rigorously followed.
It is important to provide enough facilities for the counting at the precincts and at the counting centers.
In some areas, counting happened exactly as outlined in the "Handbook for Members of the Board of Election Inspectors." However, these were the minority, Anfrel said. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (May 16, 2007 issue)
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