Comelec to activate onscreen vote verification function

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is standing pat on its decision not to activate the Voter Verification Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) feature of the automated voting machines, but will activate the onscreen verification of votes function during the May 9, 2016, national elections.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said the onscreen verification function allows the voter “to verify the accuracy of the vote counting machines’ (VCMs’) interpretation of the ballot before the latter is dropped into the bal-

lot box.”

He said the en banc came out with the decision after weighing the risks and benefits of the onscreen verification function.

“The Commission is mindful of the risk that the use of the onscreen verification functionality may have facilitate vote-buying, and that there is a possibility that other people will attempt to know how a person has voted by peeking, surreptitiously or otherwise, at the onscreen display while the voter is examining it,” said Bautista, quoting en banc Resolution No. 10071 dated March 3, 2016.

“The Commission likewise notes the risk that may arise from objections to the content of onscreen display visa-vis one’s vote, whether arising from innocent mistakes or deliberate attempts to undermine the credibility and orderliness of the electoral process, and that these will inevitably cause longer queues and waiting time at the polling places,” he added.

The long queues and waiting time in past elections, Bautista said, have discouraged voters from exercising their right to suffrage significantly degrading the voter experience, contrary to the Commission’s mandate to conduct orderly elections.

But after weighing the risks and benefits in the use of the onscreen verification function, Bautista said the Comelec decided to err on the side of transparency, notwithstanding the attendant risks.

“Premises considered, the Comelec resolved to use the onscreen verification functionality of the VCMs for a maximum of 15 seconds for the May 9, 2016 polls,” he said.

Asked whether the additional time needed to accommodate the onscreen verification picture would force the Comelec to prolong the voting hours, Bautista said they are still studying the matter.

The additional time that the feature will require to allow voters to verify their votes is 2 hours and 30 minutes based on 800 voters per cluster of precincts.

“We will look into it... But as we said, as much as possible, we want the voting to end early,” said Bautista.

Earlier, the Comelec already announced that the voting hours for the next elections will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.