Firm says automation key to peaceful polls

A company that has succeeded in holding the Philippines’ first automated elections in 2010 has pointed to efficient voting systems as key to peaceful elections anywhere.

In a statement, Antonio Mugica, chief executive officer of Smartmatic, said a perfect example of how the use of technology in elections, like it had been used by Smartmatic in the Philippines in 2010, could lead to the peaceful holding of elections.

Murga cited Smartmatic’s experience in Venezuela, a South American country which recently concluded elections for president.

“The recognition of electoral results in record time honors our work and confirms the immense value of a secure, auditable voting technology that’s recognized by all political figures,” said Mugica said in the statement.

“Already back in 2004, we conducted the first national election worldwide with printed voting vouchers,” said Mugica.

He said the use of biometrics in Venezuela by his firm helped set trends in transparent and reliable election results.

The Venezuelan National Electoral Council worked together with Smartmatic as technology supplier to successfully automate every step of the elections in that country.

In June, the Supreme Court, voting 11-3, upheld the validity of the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) P1.8-billion contract with Smartmatic for the purchase of 82,000 voting machines used in 2010 after the machines were used in successful elections that year.

The high court threw out four separate petitions questioning the decision of the Comelec to buy the precinct count optical scan machines from Smartmatic. The ruling lifted the temporary restraining order it issued on April 24 that prevented the Comelec and Smartmatic from consummating the deal.

Mugica said “only when you have an end-to-end automated process, and an exact, auditable technology can you guarantee that the results are accepted by all.”