Election Day: Vote Wisely
Today is Sunday, May 8, 2022. Tomorrow, May 9, 2022, is election day. They proclaimed tomorrow a non-working holiday because the majority of voters between the ages of 18 and 65 are at work and must vote at that time. Most of us, without a doubt, are eligible to vote on election day and have the right to vote for whoever we wish. The election will begin at 6 a.m. and finish at 7:30 p.m. They have adjusted the timing to assist all voters, but it will still depend on your location and where you vote. One thing I want to emphasize is the relevance of voting properly in both national and local elections. Your vote, your duty; you are the only one who will be held accountable.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has friends on Facebook that constantly post their presidential candidates and argue with one another. I have batchmates that were once friends but are now rivals. They are no longer friends as a result of the election, which is rather concerning to me since why not simply vote for anyone you want and let them select whoever they want? If you persuade them to vote once or twice and they still refuse, just stop and find someone else to persuade. Do not engage in combat with them.
According to news reports, more than 65.7 million Filipinos have registered to vote in the upcoming election. Still, we cannot predict that all of those registered voters would vote on that day; we can only predict that 70-80% of the 65.7 million will vote, not all of them. Currently, there are 10 presidential contenders and 9 vice presidential candidates standing for office. There are 64 senate candidates on the ballot, but as I heard on the news, Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta has withdrawn from the candidacy. I'm not sure what the cause is, therefore I'm not going to say anything about it. There are 63 officials to vote for, but only 12 will sit in the Senate. Research well before voting for senators since it will greatly assist the President and Vice President in establishing what is best for the country. They should be on the same road and not competing with one another.
Because this is my first election, I've done a lot of research on how and what to do on election day. It's worth sharing it here so you're aware of the latest election reminders. I'll simply list everything I've acquired so far so that we can all vote tomorrow.
Time
Make sure you know what hour or go on time you will vote at. Do not be late.
Social Distancing
Due to the obvious pandemic and the fact that we are currently in crisis as a result of Covid 19, keep your distance from others. Because everyone has the right to vote, whether you are vaccinated or not. Just be cautious.
Things to prepare
Make a list of who you will vote for so that you do not vote for the wrong candidates. You must have determined who you would vote for and not merely think about it when voting.
Remember to carry your facemask as well as an extra in case you lose your facemask. You should also bring a faceshield if the moderator says so; simply browse the official page of your venue to stay up to date.
Bring your ballpen.
Bring at least one ID so that poll watchers can quickly locate your name and the room in which you will vote.
Bring alcohol or sanitizers for health purposes.
Do not wear the color of your chosen Candidate
Please do not wear the color of your presidential candidate to prevent disputes at the voting location. Wear a white t-shirt as much as possible so that they don't know who you're voting for. Also for your own protection.
Go to poll watcher
Go to the poll watcher and provide your name so that she or he knows which room you are supposed to vote in. Please bring your ID and registration card.
Check you ballot
Before you complete or shade the circles on your ballot, double-check that it is proper and accurate. There have been rumors that certain candidates were not on the ballot. The election for abroad Filipinos began on April 10th, and some of them have posted on social media that there are missing candidates on the ballot, so be sure to tell the poll watcher as soon as possible. There is also conjecture that certain candidates who already have a shade do not accept the ballot when there is already a shadow on them. There is also speculation that several candidates have already shaded their names in the ballot. If you see something odd on the ballot, please notify the observer.
Cast your ballot
Lastly, when you have finished voting, you should double-check your ballot. Put it in your folder to keep people from seeing who you voted for, then put it in the machine and wait for the receipt. Do not leave the room without your receipt to verify that you have voted correctly. Check that they are all complete and file a complaint if there are any problems or anything unusual.
After that, you're done. Congratulations on your successful voting!
Conclusion
That is what I have looked for in preparation for the election tomorrow. Consider carefully who you vote for and whether he or she would assist the Philippines. Remember to vote for the deserved Vice President as well. Whoever you support for President, let us also vote for his or her Vice President so that they can be excellent partners in helping us expand and strengthen our economy. Don't forget to vote for 12 senators, which will undoubtedly help them as well. On election day, I hope there are no disputes or problems. Despite the fact that we cannot deny or avoid it, I am still praying for a clean election day in this election.
Thank you for reading!
The lead image was created by myself and edited in Canva.
Publishing Date: May 8, 2022
Oh, good to know about the dress up. I should choose a white shirt then. It is my first time voting. Hehe.