Early vote for the media

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

A petition filed by election lawyer Romulo Macalintal is asking the Commission on Elections to allow media practitioners to vote early in the 2013 elections because many of its members are deprived of their right to vote as  it is part of the nature of their job to be on assignment during election day, is gathering support from the members of the media.

“If government officials performing election duties are allowed early voting, then media practitioners, who also perform election duties and are actually partners of the Comelec in disseminating news and information on election events and results, should likewise be extended the same privilege”, Macalintal said. He believes that the Comelec has the power to allow media practitioners to vote early while Congress has yet to pass the early media voting bill.

While many members of the media are already up before the crack of dawn on election day, only a few of them get to exercise the right to suffrage because they are running around all day long, following breaking stories as well as keeping tabs on the many developing ones that make that day one of the busiest for those who report the news. Those who are really determined to vote should still be able to do so if they manage their time well, but if the Comelec were to allow media practitioners to vote early, it would really help their in their efforts to produce fair and accurate news reports during that important day. If the media can do their job well on election day, then the country benefits as well.

Government officials and employees performing election duties are allowed to vote early so elections can run smoothly and efficiently. The presence of media helps keep elections clean and free from violence, especially in troublesome hotspots where it is the sometimes the only thing that keeps untoward incidents from breaking out. A free and independent media would be freer and more independent if those in the business do not have to worry about finding time to vote on election day. That kind of media could help the Comelec as they try to facilitate the people’s task of selecting the next leaders of the country.*