Comelec to conduct monthlong education campaign for BARMM polls

Commission on Elections chair George Garcia — Photo by Noy Morcoso/ INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be holding a month-long voter education campaign in preparation for the first Bangsamoro parliamentary polls set on Oct. 13, after more than half of the voting population were found to have remained unaware of the election process.

Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia made the remarks on Wednesday during the launch of the “Botong Bangsamoro” voter education campaign at Cotabato City.

Speaking before officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and representatives of election watchdogs, Garcia urged the audience to “think about our ordinary citizens” who may not have time to learn about the voting process as they are busy “working, studying, and have other duties like farming.”

“It is important that they understand the processes leading to their decision in choosing representatives of each district, in choosing a political party,” Garcia stressed.

“Why? Because in the latest survey here in the Bangsamoro, more than half of the voting population do not know what kind of voting will happen on Oct. 13. That should raise concern for everyone,” he added.

Last year, a survey by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) found that 58.4 percent of likely voters in the BARMM elections had no knowledge at all of the voting system, while 24 percent only had minimal knowledge, highlighting “significant gaps” in voter education.

IAG suggested that the Comelec and the Bangsamoro Electoral Office educate voters through visual and engaging content, such as illustrations or videos, or through radio ads, given its significance as an information source in the region. It also urged agencies to utilize various social media platforms in educating the youth.

Garcia warned that if the majority of the public remains uninformed about the voting process, they might not vote at all in the coming Bangsamoro elections.

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He urged BARMM officials, as well as the private sector, civil society organizations, and ordinary citizens to help the agency in educating voters for the upcoming elections.

“Let us help the Comelec, help us make each of our countrymen understand how important the promise of an election is on Oct. 13,” Garcia said.

During the event, the Comelec pointed out that current efforts under the Botong Bangsamoro voter education campaign included the placing of banners in strategic locations to encourage the public to vote. Posters have also been placed in clustered precincts and in barangays to remind people of the voting process.

Brochures containing answers to frequently asked questions were also made in partnership with election watchdog Legal Network For Truthful Elections (Lente), and were distributed to various barangays and schools, as well as during public events.

To attract the attention of the youth and first-time voters, the Comelec and Lente have also created comics with “relatable characters” and “simple dialogue” to teach them about the voting process. Such materials will be distributed in print and in digital formats.

As for the vulnerable sectors in Bangsamoro, Lente has partnered with the Bangsamoro Women Commission and is in talks with the Office of Settler Communities, to ensure that they would not be left behind in the voter’s education campaign.

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“[T]he goal [was] ensuring that community leaders and coordinators are able to [become] champions of voter information, so that they can talk to their communities and tell them about the Bangsamoro parliamentary, tell them about what’s going to happen in October,” said Carlo Gino Africa, Lente consultant for the BARMM electoral code.

The Comelec will also be placing 10 “interactive” kiosks and 60 tablets in places frequented by many people all over BARMM. Made in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), these devices will feature a voter information application, as well as videos and quizzes regarding the voting process.

“[The] aim really is to reach as many voters as possible, especially the last mile communities and vulnerable groups, which include the women, youth, indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities,” said UNDP project manager Gary Briones.

On top of these, the Comelec has also created short videos, podcasts and radio plugs with the goal of raising voter awareness. This will be followed by public engagement activities, such as voter education sessions. /jpv