Treading through Tine's Line: Things to Keep In Mind on Election Day

So it's the first of May! Aside from it being a holiday and a weekend, this day also marks how soon we'll be having the election in the Philippines. Have you guys decided whom to vote for yet? Uh-ah, clock's ticking though, D-day is just a week away! Remember, we are #OneGoodVote away to making a difference, so use this time to sift through all the candidates, compare their programs and platforms.

We all know how hectic election day would be for all of us, so to save yourself some trouble and annoyance, know where you're going to vote now and check whether or not your name is actually on the voters' list. The PPCRV has launched help desks in local parishes to help voters look for their voting precinct and assigned room number. Avoid the stress by knowing where to go beforehand, okay? Also, remember that there are some things you can't do during the election. You may not think of them as much of a big deal, but trust me you can wound up in serious trouble if you do them otherwise.

Let's go over some of them, shall we?

1. The most obvious one is that there is a liquor ban. I don't think I have to go in-depth with this one, right? So, stay sober for the time being!

2. To ensure a relatively peaceful election, no firearms or any dangerous tools what-so-ever are allowed in the precinct. Anyway, there are medical team, police and tanods on standby especially in known rowdy precincts.

3. You may be a first time voter and would really like to commemorate the event by taking a selfie. DON'T. It's not allowed. As of now, there has been 9 overseas voters who are under investigation for taking selfies with their ballot. Here's a Rappler video tackling this if you don't believe me.

Click here to read the full article about it.

4. Moreover, you cannot campaign for anyone anymore as the campaign period has already ended. Some may still try and do so, but please don't be one of them! Give yourself some semblance of decency and respect the rules. If we continue with these "nakaugalian" then regardless of who wins, there won't be any good change forthcoming.

5. And I know, those little brown envelopes are tempting but say NO. Don't trivialize your vote by having it bought by unscrupulous candidates. Change should start with you. Remember that if they can afford to give that much money then they'll most likely "reimburse" themselves with the public funds once they are in office. Think twice.

6. Make sure you listen as the BEI gives the instruction. Read the directions on the ballot too. You are entitled to one ballot only. No erasures, don't make any marks on your ballot except the shades for the candidates of your choice. Don't over-vote, though you can under-vote, meaning you can choose less than 12 for the senatorial slate, etc.

7. Although there are "replacement ballots", you need to justify that the error that happened was not your fault. You can only try to feed your ballot on the VCM four times if on the fourth try, your ballot is still not cast, it will be considered a reject. And if so, you just wasted your vote.

"the Comelec also affirmed its directive to give voters replacement ballots if it's not their fault that vote-counting machines rejected their original ballots. . . The Comelec addressed the criticism by limiting replacement ballots to one per voter, and by specifying the instances when one can get a replacement ballot."- excerpt from a news article from Rappler

8. You may have heard of news regarding this, there is a receipt that you need to check to make sure that the ones you voted for were actually counted by the VCM. Be very vigilant with this. There has been a lot of talk, supposedly name of a different candidate appearing on the receipt, so you need to be wary of this.

Once you checked and everything seems to be in order, you have to put your receipt in a box, the receipt receptacle. Make sure you put it in! It's an electoral offense to leave the precinct with it. Here's a news article from GMA News Online about it. Moreover, make sure that you return the secrecy folder and the marker to the BEI.

9. But if upon perusal, you see discrepancies, approach the BEIs and tell them of this. Be sure to be calm and collected about making a complaint as COMELEC cited "frivolous complaint" an electoral offense. They found legal basis for such.

“One of the things that we placed in the draft supplement General Instructions is that making a frivolous objection shall be an election offense. So, there are two election offenses: if you bring the receipts out of the polling precinct and if you file a frivolous objection.” - COMELEC Chairman Andres Bautista said. Excerpt from a news article from PhilStar

The BEI would then make a report of this and the receipt in question would be attached. Make sure that the details are written and that the signatures needed are affixed. I think you need to sign this too.

10. Be aware of your surroundings and be mindful of how you conduct yourself. Vote according to your conscience and regard the practice as an honor that our forefathers have shed tears and blood for us to exercise. We only get to vote every six years (national election), so make your vote a good one!

Here's the 10 Commandments for voting that PPCRV has thoughtfully outlined: