i TV Pinoy

Source: Kimberly Jane T. Tan, gmanews.tv

-- In a bid to educate more voters about the country’s first fully automated elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) launched Wednesday a website called “ehope2010."

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez told reporters during the launch that ehope2010, which stands for Electronic Honest, Orderly, Peaceful Elections for 2010, is an “answer website" tasked to answer any questions that voters might have about the elections.

“I know a lot of people have already noticed that a lot of criticisms have come our way, criticisms of the projects, questions, concerns, clarifications, and things like that and we’ve been answering them the best we can but people have been hard-pressed to find one place where they can go to just really get all of the answers that they need," he said.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said that ehope2010 is the brainchild of former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, who also came up with the name of the website.

“He was requesting that there be a forum for us to discuss ideas on automation. We have decided to respond favorably to his request to show that there is indeed a clamor for a forum where ideas on automation would be clarified and discussed, this is it," he said.

Jimenez said the site has three main features: the main page where their manifesto is stated; the news and faqs section where they will put the answers to the questions that they get through e-mail; and the forum where members can have an interactive exchange about election-related issues with other people.

He said he himself is a member of the forum who may answer some of the questions posted.

Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal also said that he will be signing up as a member.

Those interested in becoming members can just log on to the website, give their e-mail address, and answer a simple mathematical equation to prove that they are not computer-generated spammers.

Jimenez said ehope2010 is not active 24/7. He was quick to add, however, that they will have an administrator who will be maintaining the site until “very late hours."

The spokesman also pointed that ehope2010 is just a “precursor" website and that they will be launching a full-information site sometime in November.

“This one is purely answers, the website we will be launching will have more features such as voter education tools, video, and other clips that will be useful to others," said Jimenez.

He said the website was designed by the Comelec’s Education and Information Department.

Aside from ehope2010, the poll body also has an official website and two blogs, the eComelec and Bagong Botante.

Jimenez also said that they will soon be creating accounts in social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Figures from the poll body indicate that as of July 2009, there are a total of 45,638,243 registered voters for the 2010 elections. In the 2007 elections, there were 45,029,443 registered voters.

But Comelec Chairman Jose Melo recently told reporters that the number should now be pegged at around 48 million. He said about 500,000 more voters are expected to register until October 31 (Saturday), the last day of registration.

Since October 22, the Comelec has extended registration hours from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. On the other hand, registration on Saturday will be held until 12 midnight.