Comelec to maximize PCOS machines in 2013 polls

MANILA, Philippines - Citing the insufficient budget for the 2013 midterm election, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it would maximize the use of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines.

Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes said yesterday they plan to have two clustered polling precincts share one PCOS machine.

“But when we do that, we have to make sure that it will not result to queuing. We’ll find ways on how to do it,” he said.

Brillantes said the Comelec would not allow 1,000 voters to be in a clustered precinct.

Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle said they would either lease brand new machines or purchase the machines that the poll body leased from Smartmatic International Corp. in the 2010 polls.

Tagle said they would need at least 125,000 PCOS machines for the 2013 election.

The poll body plans to start the bidding for the new machines next month.