Netizens’ miting de avance relaunch #juanvote ahead of elections

Netizens across the country are revving up a bigger #juanvote campaign in the run-up to the May 13, 2013 elections, promising to direct social efforts towards greater citizen participation in the democratic process.

Here is the audio version

#juanvote is an offline and online community efforts led by Blogwatch, with support from various individuals and groups across the country.

Scores of Metro Manila-based bloggers and other netizens are gathering on Saturday (May 4) at Commune in Makati City for the #juanvote Miting de Avance to finalize and announce citizen media plans in the last few days of the campaign and on Election Day.

Commune Café is located at Dela Costa cor Valero streets, Salcedo Village, Makati City, across Trafalgar Plaza and a stone’s throw away from the BDO Towers in Makati Avenue. (see map)

juanvote-miting

“We call on bloggers and all netizens to tweet using the #juanvote hashtag. Tweet your questions to candidates. Tweet that you have voted. Tweet if you see law violations and problems during the voting,” said Blogwatch editor and #juanvote convenor Noemi Lardizabal Dado.

Dado said that she expects Filipino netizens to step up before and on Election Day. “As netizens, we have the social media capital and channels to make our votes count, to help educate both candidates and voters, and help expand the coverage of the elections beyond what we see on TV and hear on the radio.”

Dado said #juanvote will release a #juanvote memo during the Miting de Avance outlining what netizens could do in support of the democratic process.

The campaign is backed by the country’s biggest telco: Smart Communications is the technology partner of BlogWatch #juanvote social media coverage.

Miting de Avance

juanvote blog action day

“During the Miting de Avance and the following days, netizens will press national and local candidates to take a stand on issues such as the Cybercrime Law and the Data Privacy Law which badly need repeal, and the immediate passage of the Freedom of Information Bill,” said blogger Tonyo Cruz a #juanvote convenor.

“These elections are very important. We have to make sure that the candidates know that netizens and other citizens want changes and reforms to keep the internet free, to improve and expand internet access, check telco abuses, and make government more transparent and accountable. These issues could be addressed by candidates who have a clear stand on the laws we want repealed or bills we want passed into law,” Cruz explained.

Checklist

blogwatch - juanvote

According to Dado and Cruz, bloggers and netizens could use blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest to help raise the awarenss of candidates and voters as they make up their minds prior to voting.

“Next week is crucial. People would be making their final choices. We in #juanvote will try to remind everyone of the issues that are dear to netizens so voters could help resolve those issues at the ballot box. For example, we hope they also vote for the repeal of the Cybercrime Law by voting for those who are really for trashing that law,” said Dado.

And on Election Day, Cruz hopes that blogger and netizens would help cover the conduct of the elections in their respective precincts. “While taking photos inside the precincts is prohibited by law, we ask everyone to use their camera phones safely and discreetly to capture vote-buying, illegal campaigning, and similar incidents.”

You are part of #juanvote.

#juanvote challenges all Filipino netizens to be champions of Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections by taking action on the 2013 elections.

We must not just vote: We must use all our powers as social media users to help others vote and to guard the vote. Armed with our cellphones, digital cameras, and social media tools, we can make a difference.

This simple guide aims to empower us with knowledge on what, when and how to report.

 

Where to report

#juanvote welcomes all types of reports through the following:

    • Twitter Use hashtag #juanvote
    • Email contact at blogwatch. tv
    • Download the #juanvote mobile android app at Google Play store via Instapatrol

 

When to report

Timing is important: Immediately report incidents to #juanvote and our partners.

 

What to report

REPORT ANY INCIDENT THAT VIOLATES THIS GENERAL RULE: All eligible voters have a right to vote freely and to have those votes counted quickly and accurately to determine the winners in the electoral contests.

Online political campaigning

Here is the primer of COMELEC Resolution 9615, the implementing rules and regulations for Republic Act 9006 – the Fair Elections Act – ushers in major innovations in the area of regulating online campaign activities.

Voting Issues

  • Delays in opening of precincts
  • Preventing any registered voter to cast a vote
  • Missing names of registered voters in List of Voters
  • Receiving a ballot that has already been pre-marked or with shading
  • Any person checking out how a voter is casting a vote (violation of privacy and secrecy)
  • Precinct runs out of ballots (If precinct runs out of ballots, a voter should be allowed to cast votes in next precinct)
  • Precinct runs out of markers
  • Precinct has wrong ballot
  • Suspension of voting for whatever purpose
  • Non-use or unavailability of indelible ink to mark voters who have already voted
  • Premature closing of precincts

 

Automated Election System Issues

  • No PCOS machine in precinct
  • PCOS machine malfunctions
  • PCOS machine rejects ballots
  • CF card (memory card) malfunctions
  • Brownouts at any time on Election Day at the precincts
  • Unauthorized personnel (non-COMELEC) accessing the PCOS machine
  • Stealing or destruction of the PCOS machine

 

Election Violence

  • Unauthorized presence of armed military or police personnel
  • Unauthorized presence of unidentifiable armed persons (private armies, militias)
  • Fighting in precincts, polling centers and canvassing centers
  • Any physical  attack or threat of physical attack against any teacher or official authorized by the COMELEC, or against any voter, any group of voters, any candidate, or supporters of any candidate or party

 

COMELEC: Prohibited acts on Election Day

  • Campaigning
  • Selling, furnishing, offering, buying, serving or taking intoxicating liquor
  • Giving, accepting free transportation, food, drinks and things of value
  • Soliciting votes or undertaking any propaganda for or against any candidate or any political party within the polling place or within thirty (30) meters thereof
  • Voting more than once or in substitution of another
  • Holding of fairs, cockfights, boxing, horse races or other any other similar sports
  • Opening of booths or stalls for the sale, etc., of merchandise, or refreshments within a radius of thirty meters from the polling place

The campaign is backed by Smart Communications , the technology partner of BlogWatch #juanvote social media coverage.

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Thanks to Smart Communications for the internet connection and livestreaming video support.