The DLSU Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has started preparations for the upcoming freshmen elections (FE), expected to be on the first week of August. The internal preparations include the appointing of new commissioners and executive board and the revising of the election code.
Despite having barely a month to prepare, the COMELEC declares that they are ready for the elections.
Tentative plans
College of Computer Studies (CCS) Commissioner and COMELEC Chairperson, Kevin Caballas (VI, CS-IST), says that they have recently concluded the recruitment of volunteers for the elections and are now planning the events leading up to the FE. These events include a debate, an open forum, and the voting itself.
With this, the COMELEC has already set a tentative schedule for the FE. Caballas clarifies that it is still tentative because the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the COMELEC and the parties is yet to be established.
New commissioners, new executive board
Last June 21, the COMELEC convened as an election board to vote for this year’s executive board. The members for this year are: College of Computer Studies (CCS) Commissioner Kevin Caballas (VI, CS-IST) – Chairperson, College of Engineering (COE) Commissioner Aaron Quidilla (IV, CIV-STE) – Vice Chairperson; College of Business (COB) Commissioner Sheila Go (III, MFI) – Secretary; and College of Liberal Arts (CLA) Commissioner Patricia Isnit (III, AB-OCM) – Treasurer.
With them in the election board are the newly appointed commissioners who are College of Science (COS) Commissioner Jerold Zapata (IV, BS-CHYB), CLA Commisioner Patricia Zeta (IV, AB-OCM), and School of Economics (SOE) Commissioner Ella Cabantug (IV, ECM-MGT). This year, CLA has two commissioners.
Amending the election code
The commissioners’ top priority for the FE preparations is the revision of the election code. Caballas stresses that the revisions is not an entire overhaul of the code, but a clarification of articles and details. Vague statements will then be removed.
For instance, a “full term” would now mean a student having at least twelve units. Provisions in previous MoAs will also be included to lessen ambiguity in the formulation of new MoAs.
However, Caballas is worried of the short time allotted to amend the election code.
“The elections are very near. It’s almost July and we still have to push through with [the election code revisions] with the Legislative Assembly. So if the changes don’t push through, we would stick to the old election code. That would be a bit bothersome for the organization,” he claims.
On campaigning
Caballas states that there are no new provisions that the parties can expect regarding campaigning. However, he adds that there is a need to clarify issues regarding online campaigning since they are the most tedious to observe and enforce.
COMELEC plans to discuss these provisions while amending the election code and formulating the MOA between them and the parties.
Automation
Last year was the first time the FE devised an automated system. However, the elections this year will revert back to manual voting. Caballas explains that the previous election was automated solely because it was part of CCS students’ thesis.
Furthermore, Vice Chairperson and COE Commissioner Aaron Quidilla (IV, CIV-STE) says that the companies involved in the thesis sponsored the hardware used in the previous election. He emphasizes that with COMELEC’s budget and time constraints, automated elections would not be feasible this year. However, he says that the organization is looking forward to more automated elections in the future.
Reaching out
According to the COMELEC’s Facebook page, last year’s FE saw an 87.22 percent voter turnout. Caballas admits that historically, it has been a challenge for the organization to reach out to the freshmen community.
However, he states that they have steps to increase this year’s participation rate. They have recruited a substantial number of freshmen volunteers, whom he believes can help disseminate vital information to their batchmates.
COMELEC is also pushing for voter education through the conventional mediums such as social networks, room-to-room campaigns, and promotional posters around the University.
The organization will also host a debate and an open forum to let “students know who they are voting for and why they are voting,” Caballas explains.
Quidilla hopes that freshmen won’t underestimate their votes. “Just because that they’re still freshmen, doesn’t mean they would vote anyone,” he says. “Hopefully, they will understand what the candidates are offering and not vote just for the sake of voting.”
Schedule of Freshman Elections
July 18 to 25, 2013
Release of Cerificate of Candidacy
July 27, 2013
COMELEC Seminar
July 29 to August 5, 2013
Campaign Period
August 2, 2013
Debate/Open Forum
August 6-8, 2013
Election Proper
August 8, 2013
Canvassing of Ballots
August 15, 2013
Announcement of Winners
