Elecom wants voters present on Nov. 27
Save for the senior citizens involved in the proceedings, the committee handling the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) elections would prefer to conduct the polls the traditional way—as in having everyone present.
Election committee (elecom) chair Teodoro Kalaw IV said the body would still consider suggestions of doing the Nov. 27 elections online, though.
“We haven’t decided about that (online voting) yet. The default mode is an onsite election because it will be the most transparent way of counting the votes,’’ Kalaw said.
Muaythai Association of the Philippines secretary general Pearl Managuelod brought up the proposal of holding the polls online during Monday’s consultation session with national sports associations (NSAs) for the coming elections at East Ocean Palace in Parañaque City.
“If you ask me, I prefer onsite because the records are already there,’’ said Kalaw, whose members in the elecom are UP president Danilo Concepcion and former International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative Frank Elizalde.
“We’re looking for a way to make it as transparent as possible without being questioned by the voters,’’ he added.
A total of 54 voters, including 51 NSAs, will cast their votes and elect either incumbent Abraham Tolentino of cycling or executive board member Clint Aranas of archery as president.
Also included as voters are IOC executive board members Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski and Athletes Commission representatives Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting and two-time Olympian swimmer Jessie Khing Lacuna.
The case of Diaz will be an exception. She will be allowed to cast her vote through mail-in voting with the three-time Olympian stranded in training camp in Malaysia since the coronavirus pandemic began in March.
“We’re also looking at allowing the NSAs to do sealed ballots and open them during the counting of votes. I have to take this up with the rest of the elecom,’’ Kalaw said.
Kalaw recognized the concern of NSA presidents who are senior citizens as they will be allowed to send representatives to vote on their behalf. INQ
