Party-list reps push early voting for media workers

Citing the important role of the media in covering polls in the country, party-list representatives are now seeking the approval of a bill allowing media practitioners to vote two weeks before the actual day of elections. Bayan Muna Representatives Teddy Casiño and Neri Colmenares, Gabriela Representatives Luz Ilagan and Emmi de Jesus, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, Kabataan Rep. Raymond Palatino and ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio called for the immediate passage of House Bill 1960 in the light of the coming barangay elections. "I am calling on the leadership to please give our media practitioners priority in light of the coming barangay elections and the coming mid-term elections in 2013," Casiño said in a press statement. House Bill 1960 has been pending before the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms since July 29, 2010. In the 14th Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate approved separate bills calling for advance voting in certain areas and of certain sectors, including the media, detainees yet to be convicted and uniformed personnel. Both the House and the Senate, however, failed to pass a reconciled version of House Bill 6928 and Senate Bill 3570. Early voting The proposed measure will grant media practitioners assigned in areas other than their polling places the right to participate in the elections through early voting. In filing the bill, the lawmakers noted that during critical times of the elections, media practitioners serve both as a watchdog and help desk, revealing images of election fraud and bribery, facilitating reports of violence and inefficiency. At present, the duties of journalists in covering elections prevent them from exercising their right to suffrage, Casiño said. "More often than not, they do not have enough time and capacity to travel to their own polling precincts and vote. It is only fair to extend the opportunity to members of the media," he added. He noted that there are already laws that give early voting rights to those who carry out public service and cannot cast their votes on election day – specifically military and police personnel. "Our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) also vote early as absentee voters. Our media practitioners should now be accorded the same rights," Casiño said. Voting process The proposed bill said that 30 days before the election, officers of media establishments shall submit to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) a list of their staff who will be assigned away from their polling places and will not be able to vote on election day. Upon verification by the Comelec, the media practitioners, all of which must be registered voters, must fill up an application form for early voting. Those qualified to vote early may cast his or her ballot in the Office of the Municipal or City Election Registrar where he or she is registered during office hours and within 14 working days before the day of elections. The voter will be allowed to vote for as many positions available, as any other qualified voter. — RSJ, GMANews.TV