Unacceptable number of invalid votes

Less than a month before the country’s first national automated elections, skeptics and prophets of doom continue to fire away at the much-beleaguered poll automation project. The undertaking, mixed with the power outages and other technical, social and political considerations, has fueled speculation doubting the success of next month’s elections.

Being at the forefront of the automation project, and supplier of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, or simply computer to the masses, Smartmatic-TIM is having its more-than-fair share negative publicity. Some are probably courtesy of people who perhaps have other technologies to sell or stand to benefit from a manual elections and a failed poll automation scheme. But some reports of system problems are valid and have to be addressed to assuage the public.

I am hopeful that the poll automation succeeds. However, I would like to point out certain concerns and issues to make the authorities and the voting public aware of some of the pitfalls that need remedy as we advance our outmoded and often corrupted election process.

Teething pains

As expected, as in any new undertaking, there will be teething pains. And the poll automation project is no exception.

The looming energy crisis, for example, is one major cause for concern in a poll automation, and the fact that many rural areas are still without a steady supply of electricity or wanting in communications facilities, could pose big problems.

The responsible government agencies, such as, for instance, the Department of Energy and Department of Transportation and Communications, have roles to play and should be put to task if they fail to provide for the facilities as planned.

The glitches and technical problems encountered by some PCOS machines during several dry runs and mock election exercises, and even during the actual overseas absentee voting, is something that should be worked on by Smartmatic and Comelec.

These malfunctions should be kept at acceptable levels. The US Election Assistance Commission (EAC), for example, views the acceptable failure rate for electronic voting machines as one half of one percent or 0.5 percent. Should these problems persist and lead to unacceptable levels, back-up ballot forms for manual voting should be made readily available by the Comelec.

Invalidated by the system

My biggest concern, however, is something that I experienced when I was with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) years ago, as a member of the Board of Accountancy.

The Board was one of the first to implement the computerized licensure examination system. Automating the correction and tally of examination sheets through the use of optical scanning (essentially the same concept and system to be used for the coming elections) and having the results in just a few hours after the students leave the examination room was a major consideration.

But, of course, more than that, the whole computerization of the licensure examination process would tighten security against leakages and in preventing manipulation of the tally results.

What we did not anticipate was the huge number of exam sheets that were trashed and invalidated by the system. When the initial results came out, the number of students who passed were far, far lower than historical averages – and it was mainly because of many simple mistakes committed by the examinees that were not allowable a in a computerized system.

And to think that these students, already familiar and trained to handle computerized forms, committed costly mistakes such as not marking well the selected spot, erasures, unintentional marks and smudges, etc. that automatically invalidated their answer sheets.

What more of our clueless voters?

Of the 47 million Filipinos who will be expected to cast their votes in May, surveys have indicated that only 40 percent have an idea of how automated tally systems work. Even less are aware of the strict system by which selections are marked on the official ballot sheet.

A big majority of the voters, and believed to largely belong to the huge D-E sector, are simply clueless with regards the pitfalls of handling forms that will be fed into computerized tally machines.

My experience during the first years of computerization at PRC showed that students and examinees who are more versed in handling computer sheets that are fed into tally machines managed to invalidate their papers by committing mistakes. How much more for people who would be handling these forms for the first time?

That massive disenfranchisement may occur due to invalidation by the system is an issue that needs to be addressed not only by the Comelec but also by all groups and individuals who sincerely want to make the automated election process a success.

Never too late

It’s never too late in the ballgame to come up with acceptable solutions as new problems arise. No doubt, poll automation is the way to go. And despite the cacophony of noise and fear, as well as the daunting environment that threatens the success of such an exercise, we must all do our best to protect the sanctity and integrity of the coming elections.

We have everything to lose and nothing to gain.

Broadcaster’s manual for responsible parenthood

In the government’s campaign against hunger, the Commission on Population is busy convincing broadcasters of the need to make more Filipinos aware of responsible parenthood as well as natural family planning methods.

PopCom has come up with a manual that contains a varied number of success stories on responsible parenting and family planning. Broadcasters who wish to receive a copy that they may use in their respective broadcast programs are advised to get in touch with the local Popcom information officer.

Managing population growth is one of the components that aims to address poverty under the current administration since family size is highly correlated with poverty and hunger. Other agencies involved are the Department of Health, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, and the Leagues of Provinces/Cities/Municipalities as members of the Anti-Hunger Task Force led by the National Nutrition Council.

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25^th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected]. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.