Comelec urged to install CCTVs outside poll precincts

MANILA, Philippines - A senatorial bet on Tuesday urged the Commission on Elections and poll watch groups to consider installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras outside polling precincts as a deterrent against threats and cheating.

Grace Poe said poll automation has made large-scale fraud relatively difficult but incidents of  vote buying, intimidation of voters and poll officials, and other forms of poll sabotage still occur on election day.

“I believe having CCTVs to monitor polling precincts would prove to be a big help in curbing such incidents because cheats and goons would know they could be exposed. The footages could also prove helpful in settling any controversies or disputes later on,” Poe added.

To cut costs, Poe said CCTVs need not be installed in individual precincts but may be setup strategically to cover several precincts at one time, particularly those with big number of voters.

She added that poll watch groups, big businessmen and socio-civic organizations might also agree to help shoulder part of the cost since integrity of the election is beneficial to everyone.

For extra impact, Poe said signs should be prominently posted about the presence of the CCTV cameras to discourage would-be cheaters and groups plotting to disrupt the election.