The Ateneo Electoral Commission (AELECOM) has released pictures and pre-recording videos last February 10-12, 2021, presenting the candidates for the positions of Vice President, Governors and Vice Governors. But with the El Consejo Atenista (ECA) elections coming up, there have been discussions regarding the empty chair for presidency.
AELECOM has ensured that there will be no problems for the ECA, as the winner for the position of Vice President will most likely take over the job requirements of the President until the next special elections will be held. However, this will be a great deal of responsibility for the to-be Vice President.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, there has been an inadequate number of student leaders willing to take the position of President as it would be of great pressure and management to lead their fellow Ateneans. AELECOM stated, “Student-leaders lose their passion in serving in a virtual platform because of stress that the online classes, online meetings and online requirements had brought to them.”
Despite the threat of the pandemic and the difficulty of online learning, AELECOM has decided to push through with the elections as they believe that the student body is in need for another set of leaders that will continue to serve passionately and responsibly.
AELECOM has planned the Miting de Avance at CDCH on February 23, Encuentro at CDCH on February 24 and the Voting/Election proper at ECA Office on March 3. All events will be held live on Facebook, giving candidates the opportunity to show who they are and the positions they are campaigning for. AELECOM has also ensured that the candidates’ internet connections will not be an issue.
Providing students with the comfortability and easy accessibility to vote through their personal devices without having to do it face-to-face as before, AELECOM will continue to operate through the Ateneo Voting System (AVS) that was created by the CITS.
AELECOM has ensured that this is only a temporary response, and that in the future elections, they will continue improving the system by obtaining suggestions from the AdZU community.
