WITH the voting period for the Student Executive Council (SEC) general elections concluding last Apr. 7 at the Multi-Purpose Hall. As the students cast their votes, the Bedan community anticipates concise information on voter turnout and overall election proceedings to ensure transparency, engagement, and integrity in this year’s election race.

     In an interview with THE BEDAN HERALD, Daniela Cronico (IV-BSA), Chairperson of the Bedan Electoral Committee (BELCOM), assured that the election is “proceeding smoothly.” She acknowledges a few hurdles: “Some initial challenges—like venue availability and minor technical issues with the LMS—were promptly addressed to ensure the integrity and efficiency of the process.” 

     When asked about the current status of student participation, she says, “While I cannot confidently say that Bedans are particularly enthusiastic, they have remained compliant and cooperative throughout the voting process.”

     BELCOM has yet to determine the participation rates for each school in the Tertiary Schools due to the limitations of its current voting setup. Nonetheless, Cronico emphasized that improvements are already being planned. The committee aims to implement a more detailed and segmented voting form better to analyze voter turnout across the different schools and departments. 

     On student engagement, Cronico emphasized the organization's ongoing efforts to inform and motivate the student body to vote. “BELCOM has consistently utilized online platforms—such as official social media pages and group chats—to disseminate information and reminders regarding the elections.” She also expressed optimism about the potential increase in voter turnout after closely monitoring the process: " We remain hopeful that this year’s voter turnout will surpass that of the previous year.”

     Despite specific voting behavior not being disclosed due to privacy protocols and to protect the sanctity of the voting population, Cronico highlighted the security of the system they are utilizing. “The LMS provides a secure environment, ensuring that only bona fide Bedan students can access the voting form,” she said.

     When asked whether student apathy had considerably improved compared to the past few years, Cronico awaits the voting period to conclude that would provide the committee with a better position to assess and evaluate. “In my opinion, voter turnout remains one of the most reliable indicators in measuring improvements in student apathy.”

     The voting began last Apr. 3 at the St. Bede Building Library and continuing the elections online via the Learning Management System of SBCA. According to the committee they need a maximum of seven days to validate the votes.