To enhance electoral transparency and efficiency, the Commission on Elections – Davao Region (COMELEC) introduced the new Automated Counting Machine (ACM), set to be used for the first time in the upcoming May 12 national and local elections.
In the 2019 National and Local Elections, COMELEC revealed that the number of Voting Counting Machine (VCM) issues tripled compared to the 2016 elections which resulted in multiple delays. Most of the issues in the VCM are corrupted SD cards, unlike the new ACM that uses USB as its primary memory storage.
Adin highlighted the primary key features of the ACM, which are more reliable and less prone to damage, making replacements less frequent when the election starts.
“One of the most important improvements that was made with these ACM machines compared to the previous ones is that we are now using USB for its main memory and backup memory because previously we were using SIM cards, which were easily contaminated or easily damaged.”
Adin emphasized the importance of the Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) of the ACMs days before the elections to test their functionality and ensure that they will not be tampered with during the testing.
“From opening, from voting to results generation, hanggang closing of votes, gagawin siya during the FTS, again in public and after the FTS, magri-rezero sila, idedelete nila lahat na data and then they will seal the machines again.”
“Why is there a need to seal the machine again? So that the EB (Electoral Board) can show you that after the final testing and sealing, pag-open sa election day, walang nangyari kaguluhan or whatever in between…. so that when the election day comes and when you open it, you can see that the machine is not tampered,” Adin added.
According to Adin, COMELEC, in collaboration with other government agencies, has ramped up security measures to uphold the integrity of the elections.
“In order to achieve this goal or the purpose of free, honest, open, and credible elections, all of us right now, all of these government agencies are monitoring all the current events and all the events that are happening, and we are also expecting all and every contingencies.”
COMELEC warns disobedient aspirants
Adin raised caution on candidate aspirants who violate lawful campaign and election propaganda through illegally placed campaign materials.
“There are only certain areas where they can put their faces… bawal po ang posters in any public places, especially sa poste, sa lampo, sa barangay hall… Ang posters po ilagay sa common poster areas alone. ”
Additionally, Adin stressed that campaign posters should only be two by three feet in size, and more will result in a breach of campaign rules.
“Yung poster po is only two by three ang allowed na limit, unless nag-hire sila ng lead wall doon sa kalsada… It’s very small lang, hindi na hindi yung mga malalaki-malalaki masiyado.
Adin reminds voters that a good candidate will play fair and follow the campaign and election rules.
“Na-heart ko ni siya na candidate, but then kadami niya talagang faces tapos nasa poste… that alone will tell you if he is going to be a good leader. Remember, a good leader must first be a good follower.”
Facilitated by the AdDU Blue Vote program and managed under the Ateneo Resource Center for Local Governance (ARCLG) and the University Community Engagement and Advocacy Council (UCEAC), the voting demonstration aimed to educate voters on the new technology and reinforce their role in ensuring a fair electoral process.
The COMELEC Automated Counting Machine (ACM) Demonstration was held last February 17 at the Media Room, 8th floor, Xavier Hall, CCFC Building, Ateneo de Davao University.