Comelec orders final testing of poll machines

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the final testing and sealing (FTS) of the vote counting machines (VCMs) to be used in the overseas absentee voting that will start on April 9.

In a resolution, the Comelec said the VCMs would be deployed to 30 Philippine posts abroad where there will be automated balloting.

The posts were identified as Agana, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, Ottawa, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington, London, Madrid, Milan, Rome, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Osaka, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait, Man- ama, Al Khobar, Riyadh and Tel Aviv.

At least 26 Philippine posts will employ the postal manual voting system while another 26 will use the personal manual voting system.

“TheVCMshall be tested within three weeks before the start of the voting period,” stated Comelec Resolution No. 10051. But it also noted that candidates, political parties and partylist groups should be advised prior the conduct of the final testing and sealing of the VCMs.

The Comelec said they would be notified by the Office for Overseas Voting three days before the FTS is conducted by posting a notice of the date, time and place in the official website of the poll body.

The procedure is vital to ensure the integrity, security and accuracy of the poll machines before they are used on election day.

The FTS will check if the VCMs accept the ballots and if the count of the units will match that of the manual count that will be done following actual voting using 10 FTS-specific ballots, which will be fed to the machines.

The overseas absentee voting is scheduled a month ahead of the election day in the country. It will run from April 9 to May 9.