8 defective VCMs replaced in Negros Oriental
Vote-counting machine inside a precinct (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines–At least eight defective vote-counting machines (VCMs) here were replaced by standby contingency machines of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Oriental.
The glitches included jammed ballots, unread votes and machines not recognizing the ballots.
According to Comelec provincial elections chief Lionel Marco Castillano, the faulty machines were being repaired.
Voting, continued, however.
Castillano said the ballots were placed in a box and would be transported to other voting centers in case the defective machines were not repaired or changed.
Voters, he said, will be asked to sign a waiver to allow the electoral board to feed their ballots in another machine in nearby voting centers.
“Voters have nothing to worry about because these ballots will be secured and poll watchers will witness the Electoral Board feeding these ballots to the machines,” he said.
The provincial poll body has 25 reserved machines and only eight of these were used on Monday. /ra
