4K VCMs undergo final testing, sealing today

AROUND 4,000 vote counting machines (VCMs) in Davao Region will be subjected for simultaneous final testing and sealing on Thursday, May 5 days before the national and local elections on May 9, an official from the Commission on Elections-Davao Region (ComelecDavao) said.

Comelec-Davao assistant Regional director Lawyer Gay Enumerables said in a press conference on Wednesday, May 4 that the testing and sealing which will be conducted at all public schools, which will serve as polling precincts throughout the region.

Enumerables said the checking of the VCMs aims to determine if the machines are working properly, and will allow them to address if there would be technical issues in it before election day.

The official said 10 voters will be invited for the testing. This also includes the simultaneous casting of votes, from filling out the official ballots and then feeding them into the VCMs.

The testing, she said, will be opened to the public.

Enumerables said the VCMs started to be delivered in the polling centers on May 1, while the official ballots were already delivered at the Treasurer’s Office.

Unlike in the previous elections, defective VCMs and SD cards will no longer be shipped to Manila for repairs as there are already identified repair hubs in the region.

The official also said they’re anticipating some challenges on election day, including internet connectivity that may cause delay in the transmission of electronic results.

Meanwhile, the Comelec official said that the voting hours had been extended from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. as voters inside polling precincts will be limited due to the physical distancing restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

She added that prior to entering the polling precinct, voters must undergo thermal scanning before entering the precinct.

“Hopefully tomorrow (May 5), kung naa may mga makita na daot saatong makina, minimal lang siya but ready na ta (if we would be able to see some glitches in the machine, it would only be minimal, but we are already ready),” Enumerables said.

Enumerables said there is no need for voters to present a negative swab test result or vaccination card to be allowed to vote. The Comelec, however, will still implement minimum health standards such as physical distancing and wearing of face masks, as well as checking of body temperature. /