PCOS vote machines to be tested by Comelec; media won’t witness proceedings

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections will hold field testing of some of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines that will be used in the May 2013 polls.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the activity, to be conducted on Saturday, would test the capability of the PCOS machines in transmitting the results of the elections.

“The field test aims to simulate the automation stages on Election Day and to allow the poll body to improve the system,” Jimenez said.

“It’s an internal test of the system. We will be transmitting data from our remote locations and we will see if the supposed recipient will be able to receive them,” he explained.

But Jimenez said members of the media would not be allowed to observe the conduct of the field tests.

“We will probably not allow coverage at this point because a lot of activities involved in field testing are internal to the system,” said Jimenez.

Aside from field tests, Comelec will also hold mock elections in selected sites nationwide on February 2 and will involve actual voters.