There's an email request going around for voters to alphabetize the senators they're putting in their ballots. I echo the plea. It's just a small thing we can do and it will definitely help the teachers counting the votes.

The advantages:

1. It's more efficient. The tally sheets bear the candidates' names in alphabetical order so if we alphabetize, the teachers wouldn't have to move from one tally sheet to another and back again. It is a big help for the poor teachers who are so tired. They wouldn't have to exert so much effort. It's more organized.

2. It's harder to cheat. One cheating strategy is to include names in a ballot that is not full. The senatorial list is the main target of this. An odd name read as not in the right alphabetical order would raise suspicion.

3. It saves time. We can get election results faster.

Besides, voters should really have finalized their list before going to the voting precinct. Otherwise, there is a tendency to just heed name recall. That process does not usually yield good senators.

So please, know the candidates. Scrutinize them. Take your pick. Finalize. And alphabetize.

P.S. You can also alphabetize your local councilors.