On failure of 2020 USC Elections: Cliffhanging #MarchBetterUSC

fe B Feb 3 — PNU-SEC conducts Briefing 1 for the aspiring On Central Student Council (CSC), spearheaded by Comm. Michel Arostique. failure Of Feb 4-7 – PNU-SEC accredits and reaccredits Political Parties. Feb 8— PNU-SEC accredits Samahan ng mga Inklusibong Kabataang Humuhubog ng Adhikaing Naguugnay sa PNU or SIKHAY-PNU as the 2020 sole party for the PNU-USC General Education 2020. Feb 10-14- Candidates file their uSC eleCtiOnS: Certificate of Candidacy. Feb 17- PNU-SEC releases the names of the aspiring candidates who passed the accreditation. Feb 19 – SEC conducts written exam as part of the screening process. Cliffhanging #MarChBetterUSC Feb 21, 22, 24, 25— Conduct of a 2-hour oral exam per candidate. Feb 27— PNU-SEC posts the names of official candidates:

ANDREA CRISOLOGO

Given the consequent Chairperson: suspension of classes prompted Emmanuel Vecino by the outbreak of the COVID-19, the PNU-Student Electoral Vice-Chairperson: Commission (PNU-SEC) decided Elisha Jesu Ataydeto indefinitely postpone the conduct of the PNU-University Councilors: Student Council (PNU-USC) Hannah Rose UraningGeneral Elections in March, Harry Sandovalconsidered an online election Lhynely Gift Pantigin May, and declared a failure of Lyka Roselle Viajeelections in September. Kristine Patoc

Election activities transpired Jaypee Michael Barbafrom the 1st week of February Jasmin Velchez until the 4th Monday of March, Johnel Brit as indicated in the PNU-SEC’s Princess Nariz election calendar. Jamille Aira Pascua

Attached is the initial schedule of the 2020 General Elections, INDePeNDeNt from screening, campaign Chairperson: period, its postponement due to Chrisitan Onera LGU and national government’s class suspension, and up until Vice-Chairperson: the current updates of how the Jade Daniel Judar election will go from where it was left off. sIKHAY-PNU

Feb28

Conduct of 2nd briefing led by Publicity Officer Comm. Kathrin Anne Nadua wherein they discussed the schedule, rules, and regulations of the conduct of campaign per the election Code.

Among the discussed prohibitions in the briefing is receiving aid from personalities outside the university, be it money or sponsorship. Also, members of organizations within PNU are not allowed to ‘bring the name of the organization’ in pledging support for the candidates as this may cause disqualification of the said candidate/s.

MARCH

Feb 29-March 10- Campaign Period. Candidates are allowed to campaign online during weekends.

March 4 – PNU-SEC posts videos of candidates answering a variety of questions on their official Facebook page.

March 9 - Board Resolution 41 declares indefinite postponement of the PNU-ESC General Election

March 10— Duterte suspends the classes in NCR until March 14 due to COVID-19 threat.

March 10— Head of the Board Canvassers, Comm. John Peter Tredes leads Briefing 3 for Board of Election Inspectors and Poll Watchers.

March 12— Initial date of the Miting de Avance. SEC cancels the event because of the week-long class suspension.

March 12— Duterte suspends classes in all levels and government work in the executive branch for one month or until April 12.

March 13— DATE OF THE ELECTION. SEC moves date to March 20 due to class suspension, but postpones indefinitely after the imposition of the Metro-wide Community Quarantine

MAR9

Board resolution no. 41 declares indefinite postponement of the PNU-UsC General election.

In an article published in SEC’s official newsletter, Vox Populi, Comm. Chosen M. Saus cited Article 1 Section 3 of PNU-USC which states, “when for any serious cause such as violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia or records, force majeure, shortening of the semester, and other analogous cases of such nature that the holding of free, orderly and honest election should become impossible, the Commission, motu proprio, or upon a verified petition by any interested party, and after due notice and hearing, whereby all interested parties are afforded equal opportunity to be heard shall postpone the election.”

25.13%

Faculty of Education Sciences (FES)

36.90 %

Institute of Physical

Education, Health, Recreation, Dance, and Sports (IPEHRDS)

55.47%

1st-year Students

44.32%

Faculty of Science Technology and Mathematics (FSTEM)

In 2019, insufficient time caused the declaration of failure of election, according to SEC Vice-Chairperson Comm. Roan Arnega. Instead of conducting the general elections on February 28, 2020, the 4th week of February, mandated in Article 18 Section 1 of the 2018 PNU-USC Constitution, SEC scheduled it in March. The commission was firm that ample time for preparation is necessary to ensure that it would go smoothly. To add to the commission's problems, January was a month full of class MAY2

seC drafts contingency plans which contain two options, campus and online election.

SEC conducts survey among the PNUANs in May regarding the possible conduct of an online election, however, it garnered unfavorable responses. Reyes said that they value student involvement in terms of decision-

making.

Table 1 suspensions due to the Taal eruption and PNU Summit. The reasons above resulted in the shift of the election date to March.

This year, SEC asks the students for a higher voter turnout after garnering only 51.87% turnout in 2019 (Table 1).

All set for the much-awaited election 2020, PNU-SEC launched its hashtag #MarchBetterUSC as early as February. But months have gone by due to the pandemic, and further cancellation of classes and activities persisted. Finally, after MAY15

UsC Chairperson Alfredo magat presides a special meeting where the possibility of online elections is discussed.

During the meeting, USC invited the candidates to the possible conduct of online elections. Given that all other university hubs used the same platform for elections.

In case conducted, the electoral commission will adjust the procedures and guidelines so as not to violate the current election code. These adjustments, according to the SEC, are part of the matrix being developed by them and the Office of Student Affairs and Student Services (OSASS). an en banc session last Sept. 28, the electoral commission declared a failure of elections nullifying all election processes that happened during the 2020 General Elections of PNU-USC.

SEC explained in a 5-page Board Resolution that aside from requiring several considerations—security of the ballots, unavailability of an online election system, and inclusivity of the platform— the conduct of an online election is not covered by the Election Code, thus would be unconstitutional. AUG24

PNU-seC conducts virtual meeting with the candidates, siKhAy and the independents.

Through a Facebook post, SEC announced that the commission’s effort and suggestions for conducting an inclusive and prostudent election while keeping the election’s credibility are among the matters discussed in the virtual meeting.

Furthermore, Comm. Chosen M. Saus cited the Board Resolution No. 40, which states that all election paraphernalia— ballots, Official Canvassing Results, Statement of Votes per Precinct, Certificate of Canvass of Votes, S.O.C.E., Election Results, report form of Board of Election Inspector Copy of Election Code, Copy of 2018, PNU-USC Constitution, Minutes of Folder and Ballot Boxes— will remain effective until the conduct of the next election. The commission’s efforts are made pointless with the recent F.O.E. as all of these may not be in use as long as physical classes remain a far cry.

72.11%

Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences

(FBESS)

2019 voter Turn-out

60.55%

Faculty of Arts and

50.55%

School of Information and Knowledge Management (SKIM)

Languages (FAL)

Transitioning from traditional to alternative modalities of conducting an election is now a challenge posed upon the electoral commission. On top of it, inclusivity among the PNUANs must be ensured, for they are the voters of the next set of student leaders who will hold the highest governing positions in USC. The opening of the new academic year calls for new student leaders, but the nuts and bolts of conducting an election in the time of a pandemic remains a question in mind.