EDITORIAL - The final push

Campaign activities are now prohibited. But the country’s experience in previous elections has shown that the eve of election day is usually when the final push for victory is made. For unscrupulous candidates, this means it’s the time to release massive resources for buying votes.

Citizen vigilance is the best way to prevent this pervasive practice of undermining the people’s will. Supporters of rival candidates typically watch each other for such activities, but even ordinary civilians can be on the lookout for this act that is expressly prohibited under the Omnibus Election Code.

When complaints about vote buying are brought to the attention of the Commission on Elections, it should not hesitate to act on the accusations and hold violators to account. Seeing vote buyers punished is the only way to end the impunity that has come to characterize vote buying.

People in dire need of money have been advised in the past to accept what is offered by vote buyers whether in cash or in kind, but to vote based on their conscience. To ensure that their money is not wasted, vote buyers have always devised ways of verifying if they get what they pay for.

This verification was relatively easy when voting was manual. Automation made verification impossible, but the use of mobile phone cameras in the polling booth can document a voter’s choices. The Comelec and independent poll watchers must do their utmost to prevent the use of cell phones for such purpose.

With verification difficult in automated elections, some incumbent candidates who buy votes have warned of consequences if they fail to get their desired results in a particular community. Certain entrenched political dynasties and reelected officials have made good on such warnings by discriminating against areas where they lost in the delivery of basic services such as in garbage collection, road repairs and replacement of busted street lights. Voters should remember such retaliatory moves and get their revenge in the next elections.

Voting offers hope for meaningful change and should not be squandered on the satisfaction of short-term needs. The spirit of volunteerism, which has been impressively strong in this campaign, can be carried over to vigilance against the buy and sell of votes.