Cool Voters Don't Give Away Votes They Loan Them.

Yesterday, the 4^th of March 2007, I visited my tita Luz in Santol and she was so happy to see me again. After we made exchanges of pleasantries she offered me merienda which I, of course, gladly accepted, who you're kidding, that was free.

While I was having the merienda my tita sat beside me and asked “Kompleto na ba ang listahan mo sa senador?” (Is your list for the senatorial candidates complete already?). I replied “Hindi pa po” (Not yet). Then she said to me that at her age and with the choices of candidates she felt she is no longer interested to vote. “Di naman kawalan sa bayan ang nag-iisang boto ko, diba?” (My single vote is not a lost for the country, is it?). She asked me. Immediately, after hearing her sentiment and her question, I felt a chill. It isn’t a good feeling. I said to my self “what is she thinking.” My mind was shouting and berating the old woman, but, I could not just say what is wrong with her statements and scold my auntie. It is not proper. There was silence; my tita was staring at me directly on my eyes searching for the answer. However, no words came out from my mouth.

After a long pause the silence was broken by my auntie’s own follow up statement. “Sayang lang naman and boto ko sa walang katuturang eleksiyon na ito.” (My vote would only be wasted in this nonsense election). My tita was truly burned up. All her hopes are gone and from her words, her faith to the system and the institutions had vanished. She commented further, “ayaw ko nang ibigay ang boto ko.” (I don’t want to give away my vote anymore). After hearing the last statement, I started to dissect each word she said and ascertain the logic of her opinion.

Initially, when my tita was telling me not to exercise her electoral right, I was furious, but upon hearing her predicament, I started to look at situation through her mind. I could understand her thoughts more clearly already. According to her, after she cast her vote in favor of a candidate who would be then elected to office, the once powerful electorate like her would have to succumb to the powers of that elected official past the Election Day. Her conclusion was very disturbing, according to her, the official elected to the office now wields power beyond contestation. Even if the elected official will go beyond his mandate the poor electorate would have no more right to question him and is left with no recourse but to swallow the evil actions of the said official. With second thoughts, I started to think that my auntie’s political thinking is correct.

“How then could I convince this poor old lady to go to the electoral precinct to vote on election-day?” I asked my self. I wanted her to vote because the future of this nation depends on the voters, then a spark of thought came to me and I remembered a slogan which was very familiar to me. “Do not give away your votes, instead, loan them to the candidates that you have chosen.”

The said slogan was the very slogan used by a friend and classmate, Joseph Balang, on the campaign for the election of the school body held in FEU during my Poli Sci years.

I told my tita to think that when she cast her vote she is not giving it away. Instead, think of it as a loan to the candidates. The principle would have to be like this: when you gave away something based on pure liberality you do not expect any return or consideration. Hence, when you gave away your vote, you thereby had given no right to expect something in return. You are not in any way having the right to demand good governance. On the contrary, when you loan your vote to the candidates, you merely lend them your vote and the candidates are expected to give something in return. The candidates seeking enough votes are hereby obliged to render good services and governance if elected. I told my tita Luz, “If you come across a candidate during the campaign period, you tell him that you loan him your ballot and that you expect services commensurate to your vote.” Then my tita Luz smiled at me and said “you clever animal, that might work”.

The next time an ambitious candidate for an elective position comes to you, and asks for your vote, be not merely a listener of his agenda and propositions. Speak your mind and give him a peace of it. You will vote for him on the condition that you merely lend him the vote and that you expect him to make good of his promises. You make reservations, that should he fail to give what is expected of him, you have the right to make demand of the pledges he owed you and the public. Make your words heard and collect the returns of your investments from the vote you loan to your elective officials. That is a cool, thing to do.

Don't give away your votes but loan them instead to the candidates of your choice. This may not be my original yet its resurrection is very relevant at this point in time. Remember, during the polls it's cool to loan your votes.