Covering the elections: some reminders

You’re a blogger and a concerned citizen, and you’ve decided to do your part by volunteering your time and resources as a watcher/reporter. Here are just a few reminders:

Vote early. So that you can devote your time to monitoring and reporting on the polls, go to your precinct early and cast your vote right away. Make sure you have a list of your chosen candidates ready.

Make sure also that you already know where your voting center is. Use these services online: Comelec site – you can enter your personal information here and the system will tell you your precinct number and polling center; Google service – enter your city/municipality and precinct number here and the system will give you the address and map of your precinct.

What to bring. A laptop — even a netbook — might be too heavy and cumbersome to lug around. Instead, use your phone to post your blog entries or to send your tweets. If you have an iPhone or any similar device, even better. Make sure you have Twitter’s number saved on your phonebook, in case you won’t have access to wifi or your carrier’s Internet. A real notebook (the analog kind) would also be a good idea, for jotting down quick notes.

If you do plan on using a computer to post your blog entries, have it stationed at a secure location where there’s power and Internet access.

A digicam or a portable camcorder (like the Sony Bloggie or the Flip Mino) would be very useful for documenting events. Some might also say that the presence of camera-toting reporters and bloggers could be a deterrent to violence. This early, figure out how you’ll be posting your election-coverage photos online, and to which services (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, your blog). Tip: to speed up the process of uploading, set your camera to take Web-optimized pictures or videos. Do test runs beforehand.

Bring a bag, the kind that is comfortable and affords easy access. If you think you might encounter dangerous elements, pack a pepper spray. And don’t forget a jacket or an umbrella — there’s a chance of rain on Monday in some parts of the country, so do check the weather reports. Oh and don’t forget to have a small bottle of alcohol or hand sanitizer, too. Having lots of people around is a potential for catching something, so it wouldn’t hurt to come prepared.

Be friendly with the cops. Police and/or military personnel are likely to be in the precincts to help keep the peace. If there’s a chance, chat them up to get a good feel for the security situation in your area.

Be safe! Make sure to let your relatives and friends know where you are and what you’re up to. Save their numbers in your speed dial.

In case of emergency, try to send out a quick tweet or Facebook message. Your friends are bound to see it.

When posting tweets, please use these hashtags: #juanvote; and for Mindanao-specific coverage, #mindanao2010. Please label your blog posts with these tags as well.