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Feature: An Online Election Coping Mechanism
The 2019 Midterm Elections occurred in May 13, and the majority of people in social media have expressed their disappointment and outrage over the COMELEC’s partial election results. Memes and jabs against the more controversial candidates have popped up, especially on Twitter.
The partial election results show controversial politicians winning Senate seats even if they have been convicted of crimes while in office. These politicians include Bong Go with his Frigate controversy, Bato Dela Rosa and his career as PNP Chief and his hand in the War on Drugs, and Imee Marcos from the infamous Marcos family.
Here are examples of disappointment voiced through memes.
The results of the Senatorial election. Source: GMA News Online
These results served as a disappointment to a vocal majority of netizens as they had championed some of the candidates that are in opposition of the current government. Notable social media millennial majority approved candidates are from liberal party Otso Diresto such as candidates Samira Gutoc, who’s gaining traction as the oppositions only woman candidate and only Muslim candidate running for Senate, and Chel Diokno, who is dubbed as the internet’s “woke lolo”.
Chel Diokno’s statements during a thanksgiving gathering after the reveal of the election results. Source: ABS-CBN News
As memes and rants rise, another wave of tweets and posts started coming up in election day itself. Counts of ballot errors and watchers were reported and shared online, and people began to notice the actual amount of these happening nationwide.
This sparked nationwide outrage over possible intentional vote count manipulation. According to CNN, there had been 600 vote counting machine (VCM) malfunctions nationwide, three times more compared to the previous election. COMELEC has tried to downplay these accidents, and netizens around social media demanded transparency. Quickly following the election, rallies and protests were planned and executed by angered Filipino citizens.
We’ve shown you how social media has been the brand new network where citizens can express their disdain and disagreement with people and organizations in position of power. However, action is still needed to truly seek the changes demanded by a number of the population. Political participation is still needed to make things better for citizens. Actually going to the polls, participating in protests, and lobbying are options to take a stand. //by Kiara Gabriel
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