Comelec eyes Internet voting for OAVs

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is mulling over the use of Internet voting for overseas absentee voters despite doubts on the security of the system.

Comelec Commissioner Armando Velasco, chairman of the committee on overseas absentee voting, said the poll body is still not giving up the possible adoption of Internet voting.

“I am still in favor of Internet voting as long as we can address the security aspect which is the main problem of the system,” he said.

Velasco said a majority of lawmakers are for Internet voting and registration.

“If we can prove that all the security aspects would be good then we are in favor of adopting Internet voting,” he said.

But until this time, Velasco admitted that the security aspect of Internet voting has yet to be ascertained and that there is still the possibility that the system may be hacked.

He also cited the need to amend the law that provides only for the use of personal voting in Philippine embassies and consulates or the postal voting.

Under the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003, only ballots cast, and mailed ballots received by the Philippine embassies, consulates and other foreign service establishments will be counted.

“There must be an amendment to the law to include the use of the Internet,” Velasco said.

According to him, the Internet voting system can encourage more Filipinos abroad to participate in the overseas absentee voting (OAV).

“Actually, the low participation in OAV was due to inconvenience for voters. If we can address this, I believe they will really participate,” Velasco said.

He said that if the Internet voting pushes through, overseas Filipino voters can vote while they are at home or in the office.

The poll body recorded 65 percent participation rate in the initial implementation of OAV in 2004, but it dropped in the next elections.

In January 2007, the Comelec had approved the use of Internet voting. The project was eventually cancelled due to fears of legal cases being filed against the Internet voting system.