Eleksyon 2019: Tips for Hassle-Free Voting on Election Day

Election day is just around the corner, and part of our civic duty in this democratic exercise requires us to go to the polling place well prepared.

We’ve listed down some tips to guide you so you’re sure to make your vote count and make the experience hassle-free.

1. Know the voting hours and your precinct ahead of time.

The precincts open as early as 6:00 a.m. and close at 6:00 p.m. Know your precinct ahead of time by familiarizing yourself with the location (online maps come in handy) prior to election day. Once there, know and write down your precinct and sequence number from the list that will be posted in your polling place.

You can search for your precinct using the Precinct Finder of the Commission on Elections. Just click this link: https://www.gov.ph/web/precinctfinder

2. Check the weather forecast before leaving the house.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes and bring a fan or an umbrella should rains be in the forecast. Bring a water bottle as the lines can be long and the weather can be hot.

The Stand on Issues app on the Eleksyon 2019 website.

3. Review the candidates’ stand on issues so you can discern who are truly worth your vote.

An easy way to do this is to check the Stand on Issues app on the Eleksyon 2019 website. You can also check out the profiles of the senatorial candidates, or check out the various voters' guides.

The MyKodigo app on the Eleksyon 2019 website.

4. Prepare your list of candidates and bring it when you vote.

Simplify this process by hopping over to GMA News Online’s MyKodigo app. This lets you choose your candidates and enables you to print out your selection. Print and bring your MyKodigo to guide you on election day to make filling out the ballot much easier. And make sure to have a pen and paper with you. Remember, the use of mobile devices will not be allowed inside polling precincts on May 13. No selfie-taking is allowed!

5. At the polling place, know and write down your precinct and sequence number from the list that will be posted there.

The Electoral Board will ask for these to verify your identity using the Election Day Computerized Voters’ List. It’s always handy to bring a valid, government-issued I.D. to speed up this process.

The Voter Registration Verifying Machine (VRVM) will be used in 14 pilot places, namely, Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan City, Cavite, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Cebu, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Davao Del Sur, Zamboanga Del Sur and BARMM. The VRVM uses a live fingerprint scanning technology to verify the voter’s identity and whether or not he or she is registered in a certain precinct. If the voter is recognized by the system, the machine prints a verification receipt that states the voter’s essential details. The voter then gives the receipt to the precinct chairperson before he issues the ballot.

6. Be vigilant!

Make sure that the ballot is clean and free from any marking except the signature of the electoral board. Otherwise, do not accept it and request that it be replaced.

7. Make your vote count by filling out the ballot correctly.

Shade the whole oval for the machine to read it properly. It is alright to under-vote but do not over-vote! Vote only for the number indicated for each position:

• Senator – vote for a maximum of 12 candidates
• House of Representatives – vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
• Mayor – vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
• Vice mayor – vote for a maximum of 1 candidate
• Party-list – vote for a maximum of 1 group

8. Check for accuracy.

Once you’ve filled-out the ballot completely, keep it inside the ballot secrecy folder, then bring it to the Vote Counting Machine (VCM) and insert it into the machine.

Stay until the machine processes your ballot. Once this is finished, a poll clerk will mark your finger with indelible ink and will give you your voting receipt. Review your voting receipt to see if it correctly reflects who you voted for.

Curious about who of the candidates you voted made the cut? Check out the Eleksyon 2019 website on GMA News Online for live results after the voting closes, as well as other important updates on the polls. —JST/KG, GMA News