Automated poll system passes scrutiny of experts
COUNTDOWN TO MAY 12 Poll watchers, teachers, electoral board members and technical staff from the DepEd conduct the final inspection, testing and sealing of vote-counting machines and other election paraphernalia at Rafael Palma Elementary School in Manila on Monday, a week before the midyear elections. —Marianne Bermudez
MANILA, Philippines — The Automated Election System (AES) that will be used for the May 12 national and local elections can operate “properly, securely, and accurately,” according to local and international experts who assessed it ahead of the polls.
The certification, issued by the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC), is the last and final component necessary for the full implementation of automated elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said in a statement on Monday.
The TEC approved the use of the AES that includes the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count, which will be used by most of the local voters and some areas for voters abroad; the Online Voting and Counting System, or the internet-based voting for the majority of the land-based and seafarer overseas voters; and the Secure Electronic Transmission Services for the transmission of votes from precincts to canvassing centers.
READ: Comelec transfers 2025 elections source codes to BSP
The Comelec said the AES was certified based on the recommendation of Pro V&V Inc., an Alabama-based technology firm, which is the international certification entity (ICE) for the 2025 midterm elections. The firm was also the ICE during the 2019 and 2022 polls.
The TEC certification was signed by Franz de Leon, director of the Department of Science and Technology-Advanced Science and Technology Institute; Zareno Reno Topacio, officer in charge of the Department of Information and Communications Technology-National Computer Emergency Response Team; and Eden Bolo, director of the Comelec IT Department.
Among the requirements of the TEC were the successful conduct of a field testing process followed by a mock election in one or more cities or municipalities; the successful completion of an audit on the accuracy, functionality, and security controls of the AES software; and the successful completion of a source code review.
Give it a chance
A certification will be issued that the source code is kept in escrow with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and another certification that the source code reviewed is the same as that used by the equipment.
In a briefing on Monday, Comelec Chair George Garcia said he was hoping that the TEC certification would address the concerns of those critical of the AES.
“I hope we can give this process a chance,” Garcia said.
Still, he reiterated his appeal for people to be vigilant for the benefit of the voters.
“Let’s continue to observe, criticize until Election Day, but make sure that our voters will be able to vote,” Garcia said. “Let’s make sure no one is disenfranchised, everyone can vote and all votes will be counted.”
According to Garcia, the Comelec asked President Marcos last week to declare May 12 a holiday to allow millions of Filipinos to vote for this year’s national and local elections.
In 2023, President Marcos issued Proclamation No. 59, declaring Oct. 30 that year a special nonworking holiday to allow Filipinos to vote during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
His predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, signed Proclamation No. 1357, declaring May 9, 2022, a special nonworking holiday to allow more people to cast their votes.
The Comelec also denied posts on social media claiming that the elections were moved to May 10.
The national and local elections, Garcia said, will be held on May 12, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will also be early voting hours for seniors, persons with disabilities, and pregnant voters from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.
