Yay or Nay: Casting Your Vote Through an App

(SPOT.ph) Elections in the Philippines are always fun—in a way. Now that the latest round of voters' registration ended in September, the Commission on Elections appears to be looking at ways to level up our voting system. Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon has introduced the idea of voting through a mobile phone app, which she added could be used to make voting for Overseas Filipino Workers easier. 

The Commissioner floated the idea online through her private Twitter account, according to a report by Manila Bulletin. She envisions that this idea could start with COMELEC and the Department of Education employees and officials. According to her, this method of voting is "traceable, security can be assured, [and has] facial identification." 

Voting through a mobile app would also make it much easier for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and, of course, Overseas Filipino Workers to participate during elections. Guanzon said they are looking at testing this method in Singapore, according to the same report. 

Our polling system has been riddled with issues, and the recent May 2019 elections was no different. Glitches in the automated system prevented voters from actually seeing their shaded ballots enter the voting counting machines—with many left wondering if their actual votes were indeed counted. Here's hoping for more secure elections in the future.

Main image by Yura Fresh/Unsplash.