Mock polls yield technical glitches in VCMs--Comelec

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disclosed that the mock elections in selected areas to test its automated election system (AES) yielded technical glitches that could mar the safe, unbiased and smooth conduct of the May polls.

Comelec Director Divina Blas-Perez, in her report on the mock elections in Pasay (first and second districts), Taguig, Pateros, Isabela, Albay, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Maguindanao and Davao del Sur in October 2021, cited problems with the vote counting machines (VCMs).

Among these, Blas-Perez told the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Election System (JCOC-AES) in an online meeting on Friday, were rejected ballots that had smudges in their barcodes caused by the markers, paper jams and ballots that were misread.

Blas-Perez also said that the Consolidation and Canvassing System (CCS) had problems printing hash codes and experienced glitches throughout the back-up procedure.

She added that human error was also a factor.

Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa "Imee" Marcos, chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation, and Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. (Cavite 4th District), vice-chairman of the House of Representatives' Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms,presided over the meeting.

Barzaga stressed the sensitivity of the votes to moisture and marker ink.

He proposed another mock election to guarantee that all these issues would be addressed.

"We cannot afford for these technical problems to exist on the day of elections," she said.

Source: TheManila Times