It’s judgment day!
IF forecasts of good voter’s turnout come true, today’s percentage voting may yet be the highest in the history of Philippine election, which is “democracy in action.”
Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, various quarters, including the Commission on Elections (Comelec), have forecast a high turnout of voters in this year’s balloting.
In the Philippines, which is teeming with election-crazy people, voter turnout has been on the average of 76 percent for the past two decades, according to records.
The Comelec recorded a 76 percent voter turnout during the May 2019 off-season election and 80 percent in the May 2016 political exercise, a presidential balloting.
“Sa tindi ng batuhan ng putik ay marami ang naniniwala na aabot ng mahigit 80 percent ang voter turnout sa araw na ito,” said a newly-registered voter.
In this impoverished Southeast Asian nation of more than 110 million English-speaking people, voter turnout tends to go slightly high when it is a presidential election.
The “go out and vote” campaigns launched by civic groups in various parts of the country may have generated enough enthusiasm among the country’s registered voters.
“Grabe ang interest ng taumbayan, kasama na ang mga botante, sa eleksyon. Walang gustong matalo ang kani-kanilang kandidato, lalo na sa pagka-Presidente,” said a young voter.
“Dahil ayaw matalo ang kani-kanilang mga manok, inaasahang marami ang boboto sa araw na ito,” he added.
That’s why we expect this year’s voter turnout to be the highest in the country’s history.
