10 lessons learned serving the May 10, 2010 Elections as Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) member.
1. Liquor Ban – If you drink, don’t drive, if you drive don’t drink. Drink in moderation, never get drunk and overly intoxicated.
2. Sleep Early – Since I’ll be serving the election, I have to sleep and wake up early to prepare and check the polling/voting, precinct station I’ll be assigned to.
3. Vote early – exercise right to suffrage, have your list of presidentiables, vice, senators, etc. prepared on a piece of paper.
4. Additional Personnel – manpower to handle voter queries, ie; issuance, releasing of priority numbers, precinct numbers with corresponding names, technical concerns.
5. Patience – dealing with voter complaints and other issues can be a pain in the head, so relax and take it easy, keep a cool level head.
6. Bring food – packed breakfast, lunch, dinner, food is fuel helps you stay focused and attentive.
7. Sign documents – affixed signature on pertinent papers needed for the release of election returns.
8. Needed Hardware – we were given only one Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) inclusive of modem, we finished closing the voting early by 6:30 pm. unfortunately the hardware didn’t work, there was no transmission of election returns and the said device was transferred from one precinct to another, thus causing much delay. We finished at around 1:00 am.
9. Compensation – prompt and release of payment.
10. Briefing – all personnel involved serving the election must be ready, adapt, anticipate any changes, abide and implement measures for the smooth and harmonious relationship between poll watchers and voters.
PS: During the said election there was no harassments and election related violence. Two thumbs up to the teachers, members, staffs, etc. making the election smooth.
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