Are you voting good people into office?

THE tendency to make last-minute choices or be swayed by TV and radio campaigns or succumb to vote-buying is a common problem seen in elections.

The “Vote Good” campaign of Dilaab Foundation was launched last Feb. 15 in Cebu City during the “discernment recollection” for voters and candidates which had Manila Archbishop Jose Luis Tagle for the main speaker.

“I matter. My vote matters. I vote good,” said Jenny Tan, the program head, in leading the audience in reciting words of affirmation for an honest election free of vote-buying in the May 13 local and national polls.

In its website www.votegood.net, one can download copies of the LASER Test, a five-point guide developed in 2007 by the Christian-based movement to help voters and candidates make choices based on values and realistic criteria such as ‘Does the candidate have a modest lifestyle? Does he or she have a track record of competence and servant leadership?”

Dilaab encourages citizens to use the checklist and discuss the merits of candidates with friends, barkada, family, and prayers groups forming “circles of discernment.”

LASER stands for lifestyle, action, supporters, election conduct and reputation.

The LASER test was developed in 2007 by Dilaab after executive director Fr. Carmelo Diola sent a questionnaire by e-mail to 12 people, tapping their insights on good governance. One of the respondents was Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Youth volunteers are leading the online initiative of the campaign. The website also has special prayers for peace and social change. Candidates in Cebu city and province were sent copies of the LASER Test and asked to answer them. Their answers will be posted in the Vote Good website and circulated to discussion groups.

“This campaign highlights the values of the voters to choose good during elections by renouncing vote buying and selling – and all its variations – and by voting good candidates into office. After all, a vote for good is a vote for God by choosing the way of God during elections,” said the website.