By James Jimenez
If there’s one thing I learned during my many long years at the Commission on Elections, it’s this: the interest in voter education may rise and fall, but the need for it never goes away. And when the elections are near – as they are right now, and getting closer everyday – is when both the need and the spiking interest coincide.
And that’s why I think it is time to finally start up my long delayed podcast.
The Big Idea
The big idea behind this podcast – which shall remain untitled for now – is that people closely follow daily developments in the run-up to the elections, without fully understanding what they mean, what their ramifications are, and how they impact the individual voter. This is where the Podcast steps in.
In every episode, I’ll be breaking down the major election-related news of the week. Taking the listeners beyond the headlines, we will be discussing why these developments matter for the electoral process, and how they will affect the elections as a whole.
And of course, we’ll be fielding questions from the public. Every episode will start with a segment dedicated to answering questions and concerns arising from the previous episode. From people concerned about being deactivated, to those concerned about rampant vote-buying in their neighborhood, the podcast will be there to give you the unvarnished truth in answer to your questions.
After the questions, we dive into the current issues and dissect them in a way that is clear, accessible, and hopefully, actionable. Think of it as a bridge between being overloaded with information and being able to use all that information in the real world. Subscribe to this pod and I guarantee, you’ll be the smartest one in your group chat in no time at all.
What to Expect
The pod – as yet unnamed – will be conversational. It’ll be down-to earth, and it’ll be relatable. On the one hand, I’ll be drawing from my years of experience explaining election-related news and developments; from time to time, I’ll be bringing in guest – thought leaders, election experts, everyday citizens, and the occasional social media influencer or two.
This mix of talking heads will enrich the conversation and – most importantly – offer fresh perspectives and a whole lot of context. A politician will react to news about election related violence differently from how a journalist reacts to it, right? And different still will the reaction be from an ordinary citizen. In the same vein, news that might please a citizen – like premature campaigning being outlawed again – would not necessarily be well-received by a candidate. All those viewpoints will be accessible in this pod.
Why It Matters
The vision is simple: this pod will give voters the information and the context they need to participate intelligently in the coming 2025 National and Local Elections. Having this knowledge will, I truly believe, lead to more meaningful engagement by the voters and will enable them to more effectively hold elected officials accountable. Ultimately this pod will matter because it contributes to a healthier democracy.
Stay Tuned
So, whether you’re a first-time voter or a seasoned democracy observer, this podcast will offer something valuable for you. Make sure to stay tuned for the official launch, and once it drops, don’t forget to hit that subscribe button to stay updated on all the latest episodes.
When I first started out as spokesperson of the COMELEC, I made it my mission to demystify the elections for everyone. I believed then, as I do now, people will be more likely to take elections seriously if they understand what’s going on – instead of just reducing elections to simply writing names on a ballot. This pod is just a continuation of that mission, and with any sort of luck, it will help you make better sense of election rules, deepen your understanding of our electoral procedures, and inspire you to take a more active part in the electoral process that shapes our collective future.
Coming soon to your favorite podcast platforms!
