Will a big quake result in failure of elections?

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is still deliberating whether or not to declare a failure of elections in case an earthquake occurs during the May 13 mid-term polls.

“There are many technical issues involved because you cannot just declare a failure (of elections) without any basis,” Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez said in an interview.

The issue was raised in the wake of frequent earthquakes that have been recorded in several parts of the country recently.

But part of the Comelec contingency measure in case of earthquake, Jimenez said, is securing the vote counting machines (VCMs) and other poll paraphernalia.

“Part of our contingency measure in the continuity plan is simply to secure the VCM (vote counting machine). But of course that leaves the question of what do you do with the ballots that are already out?” he said.

“The police are under instruction to secure the polling places or, for instance the voting machines cannot be taken out, then the school should be locked

down,” said Jimenez.

He said they will also be putting premium on the lives of the voters and members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs).

“This seems like common sense to me if you are on the ground floor and the Earth is shaking and you can run out, then you better run out,” said Jimenez.

According to Jimenez, they are already finalizing the rules of procedures they will be implementing in the event that earthquakes occur on Election Day.

“They should have been part of the planning but it is only now it is becoming very urgent,” said Jimenez.

“We are doing our best to come up with these policies as quickly as possible,” he added.