2025 elections: Groups want manual vote count amid software update

ELECTRONIC VOTING AND COUNTING MACHINES illustrations by Ed Lustan / Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines — At least two groups have called for manual vote counting for the 2025 elections amid concerns of alleged discrepancies and inconsistencies with the automated election system (AES) implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Former Bayan Muna party-list lawmakers Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate on Monday afternoon said the update to the software used may raise questions about the electoral process.

“The shift from the certified version 3.4, which underwent local source code review and independent certification, to version 3.5 labeled as ‘updated’ by Comelec raises serious doubts about the integrity of the election process,” Zarate said.

“The discrepancy in hash codes between these versions suggests that the software may have been altered without proper transparency, opening the door to potential fraud and voter disenfranchisement,” he added.  “The only acceptable software during election day should be the one that has passed thorough review and certification. Any unverified updates, especially those that change hash codes, undermine the reliability of our automated elections.”

Colmenares, meanwhile, urged Comelec to be transparent to erase any doubts regarding the polls.

“Comelec must release all information regarding the changes made from version 3.4 to 3.5, including explanations for the hash code modifications and reasons for the software update. This is essential to restore public trust,” he said.

“Transparency is key. We need full disclosure on what changes were made, why they were made, and how they affect the election outcomes,” he added.

On the eve of the elections, Comelec said rumors from an Isabela local candidate about issues brought by the update were mere misinformation and disinformation.

According to a statement from Comelec, the version 3.5 software used by the automated counting machines (ACMs) has been reviewed and verified.

Comelec noted that the version 3.4 from the Local Source Code Review Report, when it was verified by third-party audits, was labeled as version 3.5, which means the alleged two software versions are the same.

“For everyone’s information, the source code of the ACM was duly audited and the hash codes correspond to the final trusted build of the independent third-party auditor and international certification entity,” the poll body said.

“The said version 3.4 of the Local Source Code Review Report is the one that went through an independent third-party audit, and after it passed the verification, it was labeled as version 3.5, which is currently being used by the ACMs based on what the candidates are showing in a video,” it added.

The Comelec also reminded the public that spreading “false and alarming information” is an election offense.

“Our people do not have to worry about anything tomorrow because the system for the ACM used went through the proper review process, trusted build, and audit of different experts and organizations in the field of Information Technology,” it added.

However, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said on Monday that the lack of transparency with the automated process is already a cause for concern.

“Due to the software’s alleged questionable integrity, and because we have received numerous reports of overvoting and undervoting and errors in reading votes, the Makabayan is calling on Comelec: Do manual counting for all precincts today.  If the machine count differs from the manual count, it is the latter that should prevail and that would be reflected in the election returns,” Bayan said in Filipino.

“The Comelec should release whatever changes have been made regarding their software from version 3.4 up to version 3.5, including explanations for changing the hash code, and why they had to change the version of the software from the original version that went through the source code review,” it added.

Several issues were reported in the first eight hours of voting. Earlier, several netizens complained about ACMs not accepting shaded ballots, or ballots used by individuals who have cast their votes already.

Even Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidate and former senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said he experienced a minor glitch when he cast his vote in Imus, Cavite.

Lacson said his ballot was not immediately accepted by the machine.

READ: Lacson experiences glitch with voting machine

The Comelec is using new machines after the poll body and South Korean firm Miru Systems Co. Ltd. (Miru Systems) inked an almost P18-billion contract for the lease of an AES.

The contract, however, was placed under scrutiny as Comelec was questioned why it was spending more funds when the Philippine government already had existing vote counting machines (VCMs) from Smartmatic, the previous AES provider.

READ: Rep Rodriguez backs Smartmatic’s advice on reuse of VCMs for 2025 polls

Comelec has opted not to reuse Smartmatic’s VCMs due to several issues in past elections, like the 2,000 VCMs bogged down during the 2022 presidential poll./mcm