Comelec sees smoother 2019 polls with ‘enhanced’ voting machines

 MANILA, Philippines – This year’s midterm electoral process is expected to be more efficient with the use of ‘enhanced’ voting machines, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said that the enhancements of voting machines are mostly on the ‘back end’ of the entire voting process.

“Ang enhancements n’ya (voting machines) are mostly in the back-end in how the system operates, how it’s more efficient now than it was before,” Jimenez said in a press conference.

Jimenez said that the enhancements of the voting machines include ‘increasing encryption strength and changing the architecture of savings.’

“When you save, it’s simultaneously instead of one after the other doon sa kanyang dalawang back-up cards,” he added.

He, however, noted that there will be no changes on how the machines will be used.

“Use-wise, ‘yung gamit ng tao, walang magbabago, ganoon pa rin ang gamit natin,” Jimenez said.

The electoral body is set to hold mock elections on Saturday, January. 19, to test the security features, accuracy, and functionality” of the automated electoral system ahead of the actual polls on May 13.

READ: Comelec to hold mock polls on Jan. 19 to test AES features

The Comelec will also launch a new voter verification system that uses biometrics in select areas during the elections. /gsg