For some senior citizens in Tarlac, automated polls is easier

TARLAC CITY — For some senior citizens who voted in the same precinct in Tarlac where Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III is voting, the automated election system is easier compared to the previous manual system. A number of senior citizens who voted in the polling precinct at the Central de Azucarrera Elementary School in Tarlac City said they prefer the automated system as they only had to locate the names of their candidates — albeit sometimes with some assistance — and shade it. "Parang mas gusto ko 'to," said 69-year-old Teody Lansangan, who was the late former President Corazon Aquino's driver for 46 years. Langsangan, who claimed to have voted straight for the Liberal Party, said he had no difficulty voting as he already had a sample ballot to guide him in casting his vote. He said, however, that the counting machine accepted his ballot only after the second attempt. Langsangan currently lives in Quezon City, but he is a registered voter in Tarlac where he first met the Aquino family. He said he worked as the family driver since 1963, and continues to regularly see family members, including Noynoy, to this day. He said he saw the LP standard bearer last Thursday at the Aquino family's Times Street home in Quezon City. Another senior citizen, 75-year-old Esther Tayag, said she had to be assisted by her child because of her poor eyesight but she prefers the automated election system more. "Maganda po ngayon (I think the system now is good)," said Tayag. "Mahina po kasi ang mata ko kaya di po ako gaanong [mabilis] (I have poor eyesight so I wasn't able to finish immediately)," she added. Tayag, whose family lives in the Cojuangco-owned Hacienda Luisita, said she voted for Aquino. "Gusto po namin siya (We like him)," she said. For 78-year-old Marina Gigante, automation was also much more preferable even though she also had to be assisted in voting. "Sinubo ko na lang yung papel (I just put in the paper)," she said with a wide smile. Whether senior citizens would be able to vote properly were one of the concerns previously raised about the automated election system, which is being tried out nationwide for the first time. Some voters who were queued up at the precinct complained of the large number of voters because precincts were clustered. No significant untoward incident has occurred at the said precinct as of posting time. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV