30/04/2025
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐๐ฌ, ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ข๐๐
When schools falter in upholding fair and transparent student elections, they risk teaching apathy instead of democracy as something St. Anthonyโs College (SAC) Election Commission (EleCom) must confront as it prepares for the SAC Student Republic (SR) polls on May 5, 2025. The election must reflect a working model of transparency, process, and participation. However, past issues suggest there are changes to be made.
The 2024 SAC SR Election, on May 7, 2024, at the Bishop De Wit Hall, started in a way that many students described as disorderly and discouraging. Held on a regular school day, students had to sacrifice class time just to vote, not out of a sense of civic duty but because voting was tied to clearance signing. This conditional setup blurred the lines between voluntary participation and coerced compliance, putting into question the genuine intent of voter turnout.
To make matters worse, the election was marred by logistical failures. Reports from students noted that some ballots were outdated, still bearing the names of candidates from the previous academic year. The absence of proper seating arrangements, lack of privacy folders, and cramped voting space further undermined the sanctity of the voting process. In any democratic setting, educational or otherwise, such oversights not only create discomfort but also risk delegitimizing the outcome of the election itself.
In light of these issues, it is fair for students to ask: Has the SAC EleCom learned from these mistakes, or are we doomed to repeat them?
An election is not merely a procedural requirement; it is a foundational exercise in democracy. When students are forced to vote under confusing or inconvenient circumstances, or if the process lacks structure and accountability, their trust in institutional leadership erodes. Also, these early experiences shape studentsโ attitudes toward governance in the larger civic arena. A flawed student election can mirror the dysfunctions we often see in national politics, apathy, popularity-driven choices, and skepticism about results.
It is equally concerning that some students may choose their leaders based solely on popularity, without attending rallies. General rallies and debates are not just traditions, they are essential spaces for candidates to present platforms, answer questions, and prove their fitness to lead. To ignore these opportunities is to vote blindly.
The upcoming election 2025 must be different. The SAC EleCom must ensure the availability of correct and updated ballots, appropriate polling space, and sufficient privacy for voters. Furthermore, voting should be decoupled from administrative requirements like clearance signing to preserve the integrity of the democratic process. Transparency, preparedness, and a genuine effort to encourage informed participation must be the core values driving this yearโs election.
In the end, student governance is a training ground for future civic leadership. If we are to become citizens who demand accountability and fairness in society, we must first practice it here on campus, in our own elections, and in the way we treat our right to vote. Let us not forget: how we vote in school reflects how we will vote in the real world.
