Comelec thanks Smartmatic

Despite some glitches during the polling, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has expressed its gratitude to technology provider Smartmatic, citing the record-breaking transmission rate during the May 9 elections.

Comelec Chair Andres Bautista, in a speech during the proclamation of winning senators and party-list groups at the Philippine International Convention Center, said 96.14 percent of the election results were transmitted to the transparency server in the last elections, compared to the 90-percent transmission rate in 2010 and 76 percent in 2013.

“This election saw the fastest vote transmission rate ever with 60 percent of the votes transmitted by 8 p.m. of election night. In the same hour in 2013 and 2010, the transmission rate was only 23 percent and 17 percent, respectively. In addition, results from each vote counting machine were uploaded on the Internet in real time and more than 40 million vote receipts were printed on Election Day,” Bautista said.

He said independent election observers and groups from over 50 countries also noted the efficient and smooth management of the elections.

“In this regard, gratitude is due to our technology provider, Smartmatic,” Bautista said.