Glitches in poll machines persist

MANILA, Philippines - The second field test on the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines yesterday experienced glitches in the transmission of ballots in four schools in Pateros and Taguig City, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The PCOS machine also failed to read four of the 10 pre-marked ballots in a school in Pateros.

Despite this, Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal maintained that the field tests were successful. He said the glitches were expected since they were still testing the automated election system project.

Larrazabal said that Comelec would meet with Smartmatic and the multi-sector Technical Working Group to discuss how they could prevent such incidents from happening on election day.

The second field tests were done in Aguho Elementary School and Pateros Elementary School in Pateros and in Maharlika Elementary School and Taguig Elementary School in Taguig.

Ten pre-marked ballots were transmitted from each of these schools to the canvassing centers set up in Taguig City Hall and Pateros Municipal Hall.

Comelec director for Metro Manila Michael Dioneda said the PCOS machines in the four schools initially failed to transmit the data while using the subscriber identify module (SIM) cards from telecommunication companies.

After replacing the SIM cards, the PCOS machines began transmitting the data, except for the one in Aguho Elementary School.

The school was finally able to transmit using the broadband global area network (BGAN) or a satellite Internet network device purchased by Smartmatic-TIM as a backup.

The Comelec and Smartmatic-TIM will investigate the incident although one possible reason was that the ballots were crumpled.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez appealed to critics not to capitalize on these incidents.

Jimenez maintained that the poll body hopes to repeat the success of the field test to show that it was “not a fluke.” 

SIM cards are crucial

Concerned groups observing the field tests at the Maharlika Elementary School pointed out the convenience of the automated polls but also noted a delay in transmission of counted votes because of weak network signal.

Dioneda said that although they came ready with at least three SIM cards from three different telecommunication companies to be used in the PCOS machine, weak mobile signals in the area still caused delay in the transmission of counted votes.

“However, in a worst-case scenario, there may be a need to bring the PCOS machine to the Municipal Board of Canvassers (MBOC). Poll watchers will have to go where the machine goes,” Dioneda said.

He stressed that in an ideal setup, a SIM card that is working should immediately transmit data which will be received simultaneously by the MBOC, the Comelec national office, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas.

It took some time before the data were received by the canvassing center located at the city hall.

Director Celia Romero of the Comelec national office, however, said that the delay in transmission of votes should not be considered a major problem.

“It is but natural for such delays to happen, just like in texting. But we already anticipated this and we’ve come up with a contingency plan if such a situation is presented,” she said, adding that they are not solely relying on the three

telecommunications companies for transmission of data.

“We have in fact five networks which we can depend on concerning transmission of counted votes. Even if there is a delay, we are confident that data will be transmitted,” Romero said.

Palace: Don’t panic

Malacañang immediately allayed the public’s fear and said that there was no need to worry about the reported failure of some automated voting machines.

Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar, commenting on calls by some groups for the Comelec to resort to partial manual counting of votes in the May elections, said the Palace was careful in issuing statements on the matter as it respects the independence of the poll body.

Olivar said the Palace is willing to assist the Comelec, upon request, to help ensure orderly and honest polls as it has done in the past.

“I don’t think anyone is panicking yet. Let’s not panic and just leave the Comelec (to do its job) without any help from us,” he said.

“We defer to Comelec as the body in charge of this entire process and we will support whatever they decide, whatever they deem is in the best interest of the electoral process as well as the entire country,” he added.

Olivar also emphasized that “the Comelec is an independent body that we support and we feel should also be supported by everyone else towards attaining successful electoral process.”

All set for overseas voting

Meanwhile, the Comelec has announced that Filipinos overseas may start casting their votes manually on April 10, a month ahead of the scheduled election in the country.

In Resolution 8759 promulgated last Jan. 27, the Comelec noted that the casting of votes should start at 8 a.m. in the morning of April 10, 2010 “local time of the host country until 6 p.m. in the evening of May 10, 2010, Philippine time.”

“All absentee voters shall cast their votes either personally at the post, or by mail in countries where postal voting has been authorized by the commission,” the resolution reads.

Overseas voters, however, may vote only for president, vice president, senators and party-list representation.

For personal voting, the voters shall cast their votes in designated polling area within the posts or other voting areas determined by the Comelec.

The word “posts” in the resolution refers to Philippine embassies, consulates, foreign service establishments and other “Philippine government agencies maintaining offices.”

Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) forms will be placed in sealed envelops and must be mailed not later than March 10 either directly to the voters or through the posts.

The voters, in turn, will have to fill up the ballot and affix their right thumb marks on the ballot coupon located on the lower portion of the official ballot and sign on space provided.

“(The voter shall) return the sealed ballot envelop personally or by mail to the post on or before May 10, 2010. If mailed or delivered personally on May 10, 2010, it should be received by the post on or before 6 p.m. in the evening Philippine time on the same date,” the resolution states.

Comelec records showed that there are 224,884 new registrants last year, bringing to 589,830 the total number of registered voters in the 2010 elections.

Hong Kong has 95,355 voters; Singapore has 31,853 voters and Saudi Arabia has over 74,000 voters. - Rhodina Villanueva, Paolo Romero