Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez writes in his blog that the biggest threat to poll automation is not the science behind it but the negative press releases. You can be sure I'll say he is spot on in his assessment. Indeed, there is an ongoing battle for people's minds and it is one fought by poll automation critics through propaganda.

That is perfectly okay though. Misinformed people have their place in a democratic society. In the same token, those of us who have already taken the effort to research, analyze and contextualize all the relevant information have ours.

Now, for those of you who are not yet that informed about this poll automation project, I have one suggestion: Do Your Homework. If you're too lazy to do scour the internet for information just go visit http://ehope2010.ph. This site offers loads of poll automation information. It also features a forum where you can vent your misinformed and baseless opinions against the project. Don't worry you won't get unnecessarily dissed in there. I think you might even grow to like it there as you find yourself getting more and more convinced by the facts (as opposed to rumors) that poll automation is the way to go.

Now, for those of you who already support poll automation, I have one request: Help spread positive word about the project. If you have a blog, go and write about why you believe it is worth supporting. If you're any good at making graphics come out with a badge of support that other bloggers can also post on their own sites. If you don't have your own blog you can use your e-mail instead. Just copy and paste any of the pro-poll automation articles online and send out e-mails to your friends (hint: this site is pro-automation).

Let's all help out in the ongoing effort to educate as many voters as possible. Through our efforts we can stop all those rumor mongerers who prefer that we all go back to that primitve system we call manual elections.