Comelec launches vote-counting machine demo in malls

Officials of the Commission on Elections and SM Supermalls sign a memorandum of agreement at the SM Mall of Asia on Monday, April 18, 2022, for the staging of a vote-counting machine demonstration and experience in SM’s 78 mall branches nationwide. Screengrab from Comelec’s YouTube

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) started Monday the demonstration on how to use the vote-counting machine (VCM) in malls as part of its drive to educate the public about the voting process.

“Through this vote-counting machine demo and experience, we hope to familiarize each voter with the tool that we will use to record and transmit their votes,” Comelec chair Saidamen Pangarungan explained during a ceremony on the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the poll body and SM Supermalls.

The VCM demo and experience will be staged in SM’s 78 malls nationwide.

“With this project, we aim to dispel apprehension and fear of some voters regarding the use and security of the vote-counting machines. These are state-of-the-art equipment that has been used by other countries. They are engineered to be secure and tamper-proof. The programming and codes for the machines are also safe and secure,” he added.

READ: Comelec starts deployment of election-related equipment for May polls

Pangarungan urged voters to take advantage of this exhibit so that they will be confident that votes are secured on election day.

READ: Filipino in Italy complains lack of secure venue for voters

According to Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, the demonstration will show how votes cannot be maneuvered or even tracked.

“The involvement of the public in this voting experience will assist the commission in guaranteeing the public of how secure their votes are and that the sanctity of the ballots remains paramount amidst misinformation that their votes can be maneuvered or even tracked,” he said.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said 800 mock ballots with fictitious names will be allotted per day in each of the participating mall branches.

He also said that VCMs for mall demo use would be set aside days before election day, May 9, and would serve as standby units.

“Our standard practice for VCM demos is that after the demos have been completed, they are then recovered, retrieved, and made ready for use in the elections as contingency machines,” Jimenez explained.

Based on Comelec’s data, 65.8 million voters nationwide have registered for the May 9 polls.

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