Voter Vigilance: Ready Ka Na Ba?

By James Jimenez

For as long as I can remember, voters have been told to be vigilant. But only rarely have I ever heard it said that voter vigilance shouldn’t be confined to election day alone. The truth of it is, voter vigilance is a duty that kicks into gear long before election day and extends well beyond the casting of the ballot. I would argue that the need for voter vigilance never lets up, but for practical purposes, let’s just say that it ought to begin the moment candidates file their certificates of candidacy. It then continues well after the votes have been counted and the winners have been proclaimed.

From the Start: Filing of Certificates of Candidacy

Election season – some would say election fever – begins with the filing of certificates of candidacy. For the first time, voters have a clear idea of who will be running for office – despite many of the candidates previously playing coy with their plans. Vigilance at this point takes the form of a determination to scrutinize the candidates’ qualifications, platforms, and track records purposefully. It is also at this point that engaged voters should begin to demand greater transparency from all candidates and questioning any red flags that may emerge.

Pre-Campaign Period: Combating Premature Campaigning

Vigilance is also crucial during the pre-campaign period. Despite a gaping loophole in our current electoral laws that allows candidates to skirt rules against premature campaigning, voters can still hold candidates accountable. Premature campaigning is a direct affront to fair elections, giving undue advantage to those who exploit this loophole. Although the law remains imperfect, the power of public scrutiny and outcry can act as a significant deterrent. Vigilant voters must remain alert, documenting and keeping track of irregularities – even if only for themselves and their friends – so that it may inform their election day choices later on. The law and Peñera may have defanged the rule on premature campaigning, but the voter can still penalize – with their votes – those who run roughshod over the laws.

Campaign Period: Staying Watchful

As the campaign period officially begins, so does the onslaught of political advertisements, rallies, and promises, and this period demands even more heightened vigilance from voters. It is critical, for instance, to verify the truthfulness of the candidates’ claims, question their intentions, and challenge their proposals.  Voters should always reject political propaganda and misinformation, and dismiss “news sources” that routinely distort facts and attempt to manipulate public opinion. Vigilant citizens must actively participate in community discussions, attend town halls, and demand substantive debates on issues that matter most to them, rather than simply accepting as gospel truth whatever line politicians feed them. Most of all, voters shouldn’t fall prey to pie-in-the-sky campaign promises and exaggerated guarantees.

Pre-Election Day: Guarding Against Vote Buying

The days immediately before election day are always marred by rampant vote-buying. This makes the pre-election day period a crucial time where voter vigilance is needed more than ever. When I was with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), these were among the busiest days of the entire election cycle. Back then, we started experimenting with using social media – particularly Twitter (now X) – as a platform for public reporting of vote buying. Unfortunately, the action side of the equation failed to keep up with the success of the reporting side, leading to a lot of public dissatisfaction. As far as I know, the same procedural issues that prevented us from being more responsive to reports of vote buying still plague COMELEC to this day, but this ought not to discourage voters from remaining alert and eager to report vote buying to the relevant authorities.  If nothing else, think of it as striking a blow against evil. Refusing to participate in this corrupt practice and encouraging others to do the same is, after all, an act of resistance against a culture that diminishes the power of the people.

Election Day: Ensuring Fairness and Transparency

On Election Day itself, vigilance takes on a more immediate and direct form. Voters should be proactive in reporting any irregularities at polling stations, such as malfunctioning vote-counting machines, missing ballots, or any signs of electoral fraud. Staying informed about the proper voting procedures and helping to educate others can prevent confusion and ensure a smoother voting process. Remember, every vote counts, and any act that could potentially disenfranchise a voter should be challenged.

Post-Election Period: Overseeing the Count and Beyond

Even after the ballots have been cast, voter vigilance must continue. This is the time to monitor the conduct of the vote counting and canvassing process to ensure that it is done transparently and fairly. While relatively very few voters can witness the counting and canvassing process in person, there are still ways for the engaged voter to keep tabs on the process. The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), for example, conducts a vote-verification operation that compares the contents of automated counting machine printed election returns to the election returns that were electronically transmitted up the canvassing ladder. This is a massive undertaking that you can volunteer for.  Call your local PPCRV chapter if you’re interested.

Post-Election Accountability: Monitoring Compliance with SOCE Requirements

Finally, voter vigilance does not end when the winners are declared. All candidates, whether victorious or not, are required to file Statements of Campaign Expenditures (SOCE) to ensure transparency in how campaign funds were spent. As a mechanism for ensuring that candidates do not overspend on this campaign, the SOCE is intrinsically flawed and far too easy to circumvent. Nevertheless, a failure to file a SOCE – even a faulty one – can prevent a candidate from taking office. In that sense at least, the SOCE does ensure that candidates comply with the elections’ legal requirements.

A Continuous Commitment to Democracy

Voter vigilance is not a one-time event but a continuous commitment to democracy. It is about holding our leaders accountable from the moment they declare their candidacies until their terms are concluded. It is about demanding transparency, fairness, and honesty from the candidates at every step of this crucial democratic process. But it is also a demand for each every one of us to not be sleepwalking throughout the entire electoral process; for us to be alert to wrong-doing in all its various forms; and for us to never let our guard down in defense of our democracy. So, ready ka na ba?