Comelec approves TOR for fully automated elections

(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RAFFY LERMA)

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said that it has approved the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the fully automated elections system to be used in the 2025 national and local elections, as well as succeeding automated elections.

According to the Commission, the Fully Automated System with Transparency Audit and Count (FASTrAC) under the TOR is an upgraded optical mark reader (OR) paper-based automated elections system with Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) capabilities.

The said system features Automated Counting Machine (ACMI) which is intended to replace more than 90,000 Vote Counting Machines (VCM) used in the 2016, 2019, and 2022 elections.

Under the approved TOR, FASTrAC shall have the following features:

• Precinct-based upgraded paper-based AES but with DRE capabilities, which still utilizes a paper ballot
• Election results shall be sent separately and directly from the ACM to the KBP, dominant majority party, dominant minority party and citizens arm servers
• The ballot box shall include a separate box for the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) or voter’s receipts
• Requirement for faster scanning of ballot, at the speed of at least 200 mm per second
• Higher resolution of ballot scanning, with a resolution of 300 dots per inch (dpi) and at least 8-bit JPEG image
• Larger size of screen display of at least 12 inches diagonal and minimum screen resolution of at least 1920×1080, with a privacy screen feature
• After closing of polls, printing of Election Returns (ERs), and transmission of results, the ACM shall be able to allow transparency count of votes in the following manner:
  • All ballot images (back and front) read to be displayed in the screen, one by one, and adding the votes obtained by each candidate after the display of each ballot image
  • Allow scanning of VVPAT QR code (winning bidder shall provide QR code scanner) one by one and displaying in the screen and adding the votes obtained by each candidate.

Meanwhile, bidders must meet the requirements stated in the TOR. 

Comelec approves creation of Political Finance, Affairs Department 

Apart from the TOR, the Comelec en banc also approved the creation of the Comelec Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD), which is the reorganization and renaming of its Campaign Finance Office (CFO).

Comelec said the department will be responsible for the enforcement and implementation of all administrative regulations and legislative measures pertaining to electoral parties and campaign finance, as well as serve as the registration office for the proprietary rights of accredited political parties.

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