Voter Ed Communication Plan for 2010 Phl Automated Elections

8/7/2019 Voter Ed Communication Plan for 2010 Phl Automated Elections

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Strategic Communications ProgramComelec/Smartmatic-TIMNovember 2009-May 2010

Issues that had been considered in crafting key messages and objective:

1. Change will always be viewed with suspicion by all sectors. Resistance is expected.

2. COMELEC has a major perception problem in terms of corruption

3. SMARTMATIC-TIMs reputation is largely unknown, and vulnerable to ignorance,

malice, and deliberate distortions by biased parties

4. Re: the 2010 automation, speed is not an issue, integrity of the system is.

Objective

To familiarize Filipino voters with the Smartmatic Tim automation system for the 2010

elections, and gain their TRUST to use it.

Key messages

a) The COMELEC is committed to clean, honest and efficient automated elections in 2010.

b) The Smartmatic-Tim system to be used is simple: Only change involved: from ballot

where voter writes the candidates names to one where the names are pre-printed and

vote merely shades chosen ovals before each name with a special pen. Only trainingneeded for technical personnel and BEIs is how to use the machines.

c) Smartmatic-Tims solid experience in several continents and in Mindanaos ARMM 2008

elections uniquely qualifies it for the 2010 elections.

d) Smartmatic is a global provider of voting products/services and technological solutions

that complies with standard business ethics and rules. Over 90 million people all over

the world have benefitted from the reliability of the SAES1800 and the Election Day

Management Platform (EDMP), and the Real-Time Electoral Information System (REIS).

e) Smartmatic has neither negative record of any wrongdoing nor any legalissues/impediments anywhere in the world as to its core business.


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Target Audiences

Government, particularly the Department of Education (DepEd) personnel who will be

tapped to oversee the 2010 polls, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine

National Police(AFP-PNP) who are tasked to secure it

Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), whose members will be in the forefront of

electoral inspection and protest in the 2010 polls

Non-Governmental Organizations, particularly electoral watchdogs such as Namfrel,

PPCRV and other governance organizations

Local Government Units, particularly League of Mayors and Governors, whose trust and

cooperation is crucial to a successful electoral exercise

Youth, particularly first-time voters. They are the primary messengers in the online

community whose voice will decide whether this system can be trusted or not

Traditional Tri-Media (with emphasis on special journalist organizations and selected

influence-holders in print, radio and TV, and their in-house advocacy movements)

All the above will have to be engaged with the objective of turning them into third party

endorsers of the system.

Strategy

Go to where the voters and targeted audiences are

Familiarize them with the system through a comprehensive hands-on, easy-to-

understand, and preferably highly visual voter education campaign anchored on

onsite demonstrations

Partner with electoral watchdogs, NGOs and advocacy groups, including media

advocacy movements such as ABS-CBNs Boto Mo, iPatrol Mo

Publicize these engagements in all available media, both traditional and online,

to inform public, and all key stakeholders (e.g. DepEd, LGUs , NGOs,

Technical Support, Media, etc. of automation progress

Identify key spokespersons in both Comelec and Smartmatic-Tim who are

authorized to speak to targeted audiences. Have them undergo focused

stakeholder/media training program to equip with them with necessary skills in

the ff: key messaging, stakeholder engagement, media relations, and crisis

communications


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Project COMELECs genuine commitment to a successful electoral exercise, and

Smartmatics solid credentials in automated elections.

Consistently inform and update public on the automated election process.


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September-October Publicity Grid

Strategy Key Messages/Topics Target/Stakeholder

Interviews withselected print

columnists/reporters

and online bloggers

Interviews with

selected key radio

and TV

commentators

Guestings/briefings

on selected radio/TVprograms, media

forums/briefings

Selected one-one

briefings/demo with

key traditional

journalists and

bloggers

Media

roadshows/demo

Lay

foundation for

easy-to-

understand,

and highly

visual voter

education

campaign

anchored on

onsite

demonstration

s

Partner with

electoral

watchdogs,

The COMELEC iscommitted to clean, honest

and efficient automated

elections in 2010.

Smartmatic-Tim system is

simple: Stll a paper ballot

system. Only change: from

ballot where voter writes the

candidates names to one

where the names are pre-

printed and vote merely

shades chosen ovals before

each name with a special

pen. Only training needed

for technical personnel and

BEIs is how to use the

machines.

Smartmatic-Tims solid

experience in several

continents and in

Mindanaos ARMM 2008

elections uniquely qualifies

it for the 2010 elections.

Smartmatic is a global

provider (90 million users) of

voting products/services

and technological solutions

that complies with standard

business ethics and rules.

Smartmatic has neither

negative record of any

wrongdoing nor any legal

issues/impediments

anywhere in the world as to

its core business.


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NGOs and

advocacy

groups,

includingmedia

advocacy

movements

Publicize

these

engagements

in all availablemedia, both

traditional and

online, to

inform public,

and all key

stakeholders

(e.g. DepEd,

LGUs , NGOs,

Technical

Support,Media, etc. of

automation

progress

Progress report on number

of manufactured PCOS

machines at the end of the

month.

Monitor any charges or

rumor that may emerge and

explain to the media.

Poll automation

system is simple. It

will guarantee clean,

honest and efficient

elections in 2010.

COMELEC is

genuinely committed

to a successful

electoral exercise,

Smartmatic has solid

credentials in

Roadshows:

Philippine Star

Newsbreak Online

ANC

GMA 7

Business Mirror

BusinessWorld

PDI Education

Team

Department of

Education

(DepEd)

Armed Forces of

the Philippines-


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automated elections

to do the job

The automated

election process is

on schedule, and on

target.

Philippine National

Police(AFP-PNP)

Integrated Bar of

the Philippines

(IBP)

Non-

Governmental

Organizations,

particularly

electoral

watchdogs such

as Namfrel,

PPCRV and othergovernance and

religious- based

organizations

ABS-CBNs Boto

Mo, iPatrol Mo

Local Government

Units, particularly

League of Mayors

and Governors

Youth, Academe

Media training Stakeholder/media

training program to:

key messaging,

stakeholder

engagement, media

handling and

relations, and crisis

communications

Selected

Spokesper

sons from

Comelec

and

Smartmatic

-TIM


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November


Sustain efforts of Phase 1

Plant column feeds and

articles

Continue media

forums/demos and press

conferences

Organize radio interviews

and commentaries

Launch Automated

Elections Advocacy

Group to create a

broader more sustainable

support for Comelec-

Smartmatic System.

Institutional ads for

Smartmatic SAES1800 in

print and radio.

Continue demos/briefings

for key stakeholders

Familiarization tour of a

Smartmatic facility that is

to be determined.

Advantages ofautomated elections

systems

Comelec-Smartmatic

helping Philippines

electoral system

societies become

more efficient and

transparent through

simple-to-use

technological

innovations.

Stress the benefits of

automation

Progress report on

the expected number

(12,000) of

manufactured PCOS

machines at the end

of November 2009.

Monitor any charges

or rumors that may

emerge and address

them.

Four majorbroadsheets, two

tabloids, Four

networks. Online

Community

Blogs, social media,

phone brigades,

PPCRV, Namrrel,

ABS-CBNs Boto

Mo, iPatrol Mo, andother movements.

DepEd, AFP, IBP,

Students(Academe)

Media and other key

stakeholders


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December 2009-January 2010


Sustain efforts of Phase 1and 2

Media forums/demos and

press conferences

Radio interviews and

commentaries on progress

of the project.

Create marketing buzz for

activities of AutomatedElections Advocacy Group

to gather more

supporters(Partner with

private sector/NGO/Media

advocacy group orgs).

Institutional ads/Interstitials

for Smartmatic SAES1800

in print and radio.

Progress report onnumber of delivered PCOS

machines at the end of

December 2009 (30,000)

and of January 2010

(30,000).

Monitor any charges or

rumors that may emerge

and address them.

Awareness on theadvantages of

automated elections

systems

Progress report on

project deployment

such as PCOS

precinct

installations,

configuration, and

trial runs.

Update on delivery of

82,200 copies of

PCOS operating

manuals.

Update on

organization of IT

staff assisting BEIs

oversee poll

precincts.

Benefits of automation

for the teachers/

BEIs.

Comelec-Smartmatic

helping societies

become more

efficient and

transparent through

technological

innovations.

Update the public on

delivery of 82,200

copies of PCOS

operating manuals.

Four majorbroadsheets, two

tabloids, Four

networks. Online

Community

Tie up with Private

sector CSR

Organization and

NGO

Blogs, social media,phone brigades,

PPCRV, Namrrel,

ABS-CBNs Boto Mo,

iPatrol Mo, and other

movements.

DepEd, AFP, IBP,

Students(Academe),

CEGP, etc.


9/11

Update on number of

delivered PCOS

machines at the end

of December 2009

(30,000) and of

January 2010(30,000).

(Feb.1, 2010 May 12, 2010)

Pre-election Preparations


Sustain efforts

of Phase 3

Media forums

and press

conferences

radio

interviews

and

commentarie

s

Awareness on the advantages

of automated elections

systems and progress report

on project deployment e.g.

PCOS precinct installations,

configuration, and trial runs.

Comelec-Smartmatic helping

Phil electoral institution/systembecome more efficient and

transparent through

technological innovations.

Progress of the project and the

Comelec project management

team-Smartmatic-TIM

cooperation.

Developments on the

Automated ElectionsAdvocacy Group.

Information/ education

program to help BEIs/ voters

properly use SAES1800

system.

Top four broadsheets,2nd Tier broadsheets, top

4 major radio/TV

Networks, and the

internet.


phone brigades,

PPCRV, Namrrel, ABS-

CBNs Boto Mo, iPatrol

Mo, and other

movements.

DepEd, AFP, IBP,

Students(Academe),

CEGP, etc.


10/11

Update on organization of

45,000 IT staff assisting BEIs

oversee poll precincts.

Institutional ads/interstitials for

Smartmatic SAES1800 in printand radio.

Final report on delivery of

PCOS machines (10,200 units

by the end of Feb 2010) and

operating manuals.

Monitor any charges or rumors

that may emerge and address

them.

(May 13, 2010 June 30, 2010)

Election and Post-Election Operations


Sustain efforts of Phase

4

Publish news

on live showrooms for

journalists and

international

observers during

election day, to display

Arrange media forums

and press conferences

Monitor charges or

rumors that may emerge

and address them.

Comelec has done it: ushered

Philippines electoral system into

the automation age

Minimized numbers of electoral

fraud and violence

Smartmatics Latest Success

Bolsters its Credentials for Future

Projects in the World. Make

The success of the SAES1800

and the Election Day

Management Platform (EDMP)and the REIS in helped the

Philippines reach a milestone in

its political and social history.

Make the public aware of the

successes of the SAES1800, the

Top four broadsheets, 2nd

Tier broadsheets, top 4

major radio/TV

Networks, and the

internet.


phone brigades,

PPCRV, Namrrel, ABS-

CBNs Boto Mo, iPatrol

Mo, and other

movements.

DepEd, AFP, IBP,

Students(Academe),

CEGP, etc.


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Election Day Management

Platform (EDMP), and the Real-

Time Electoral Information

System (REIS).

Real-time reports on installation,opening, closing, data

transmission and auditing of

polling places, as well as live

bulletins with partial or final

results, as approved by Comelec.

Pre and post-elections audits of

PCOS machines.

Documents

Voter Ed Communication Plan for 2010 Phl Automated Elections