It's election time again

Go to this site for the latest updates on the Philippine midterm elections. Looks like the cheating has already begun:

From the site:
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Foreign observers claim to have witnessed blatant cheating in Lanao del Sur and disenfranchisement in Nueva Ecija, according to the report of delegates of the People's International Observers' Mission (IOM).

Vote-buying and coaching of voters inside election precincts were rampant in Marawi City, said Jessica Tulloch, IOM spokesperson for the Lanao del Sur team. Tulloch said they saw poll watchers sit beside voters and dictate candidates' names to be written on the ballots.

Members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) were also seen powerless, as they “practically gave up policing the precincts with just anybody entering and interacting with voters,” Tulloch added.

The IOM also witnessed the following:

1)Voters had more than one finger that had been marked with indelible ink that was easily washed with soap and water.

2) Voters freely admitted to having voted several times. Voters were seen being paid a minimum of P50 for every vote for municipal and city councilors, and P2, 000 per vote for mayoralty candidates.

3) Minors as young as 15 years old were allowed to vote.

4) Peso bills were seen stapled on sample ballots and campaign leaflets being passed on to the voters through window grills.

5) Ball pens were seen in voting booths with stickers with candidates' names written on them.

6) Voters’ lists were missing outside the precincts, and no Secrecy Folders and list of candidates for national and local positions were reported.
Posted by : Erwin Oliva at Comelec in Manila