New interactive guide plots voting obstacle course

Click here for larger version A least a dozen things can go wrong during the first automated elections this May 10, according to a new interactive voting guide, The Journey of the Vote, developed by GMANews.TV. Voters are told to prepare for brownouts, long lines, and pre-marked ballots being fed into the voting machines. And that's just the beginning, as a weak signal and a breakdown of machines could hamper the counting. But the guide also suggests ways voters can address the problems, such as simple solutions like bringing a flashlight to brownout-prone areas or following the election personnel who transfer memory cards. A range of other possible choke points and loopholes are presented, along with the responses from the Comelec and actions that voters can undertake to safeguard the ballot. This guide is a work-in-progress and will be updated as needed, incorporating the general instructions and resolutions from the Comelec as soon as these are released, as well as feedback from readers on various ways to protect the voting, counting and canvassing process. Click on 'How to Vote' and Your Vox for other election-related information. Click here to download printable version - GMANews.TV