Election education website up

A website that uses information technology to educate Filipino voters in the country and overseas about the 2004 elections was launched recently.

Called VoteWisely.com, the website was created to provide voters with correct and necessary information about candidates for the 2004 polls and help them make a wise decision on who should lead the Philippines.

"With the passing of the absentee voting bill and with the power of information technology, VoteWisely.com will give Filipinos abroad the opportunity to speak up and be heard by our candidates," said Jerry Liao, communications manager of VoteWisely.com.

"With VoteWisely.com, voters will now be well-informed about the candidates’ qualifications and their plans on how to lead our country," he added.

Liao said VoteWisely.com will be the first website to employ what he calls Internet 3. Internet 3 combines the functionalities of TV, radio, print, online and SMS, Liao added that there are plans to extend the delivery of information from the website to SMS and television. Internet and mobile devices will complement existing mediums like TV, print and radio by providing interactivity functions within VoteWisely.com.

VoteWisely.com empowers voters to get all the necessary information through different mediums and would also be able to interact with the candidates and other voters anytime, anywhere, according to Liao.

Aside from the technology component, VoteWisely.com also applies the seven styles of learning in educating the public, namely: Linguistic, Logical/Math, Spatial, Musical, Bodily/Kinesthetic, Interpersonal and Intrapersonal.

Liao said the 2004 elections promise to utilize information technology to the fullest more than any other Philippine election in history.

"But aside from automating the electoral process, providing election-related information to the voters will also be important especially with the participation of Filipinos abroad in the coming election," he said. "Technology will change how elections are being conducted. An effective process combined with a well-informed electorate will be the winning formula toward a better Philippines."