Comelec: Poll random audits will not deter proclamations

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said that although the random manual audit (RMA) will be conducted right after voting closes, it will not prevent the poll body from proclaiming the winners of the elections. "In no way shall the results of the RMA delay the proclamation of the winning candidates based on the results reached by the automated election system," said Comelec Resolution 8837, which was promulgated Friday. In Republic Act 9369, which amended RA 8436 or the law on automated elections, Section 24 requires an RMA to be conducted in one precinct per congressional district in each province and city. But after much prodding from groups, the poll body decided to increase the number to five precincts per district, which adds up to 1,145 precincts. Each clustered precinct can only have up to 1,000 voters, so the number of precincts in each clustered precinct depends on the number of voters in each individual precinct. Each clustered precinct will have one PCOS machine. A total of 50,723,734 registered voters are eligible to cast their votes in the 76,340 clustered precincts nationwide on May 10, although the Comelec estimates a voter turnout of around 80 percent.
Who will conduct the RMA There will be 1,145 RMA Teams (RMAT) with a total of 3,435 members, specifically assigned to conduct the RMA in each clustered precinct selected for the purpose. The RMAT members should be public school teachers who will not be doing poll duty on May 10. The Comelec said the RMAT members must also be registered voters, not convicted of any election offense, and not related to any candidate or Board of Election Inspector in the same district. The poll body said it will ask the Department of Education to recommend 16 RMAT members per legislative district, 15 of whom will participate in the audit. A total of 229 teachers are also expected to serve as substitutes. The teachers will receive P2,000 for their RMAT duty. The amount is expected to cover their meal and transportation allowance. Random selection Comelec Resolution 8837 says that the precincts to be audited will be drawn randomly using a tambiolo, with numbered balls corresponding to the precincts. The selection will be conducted at the Philippine International Convention Center on May 10 starting 12 noon by the RMA Technical Working Group (TWG), and will be open to media coverage. The resolution said that the RMA in the randomly selected precincts will be conducted after the PCOS machine shuts down and completes all its functions. During the RMA, the teams are expected to present the ballot boxes to everyone present in the precinct. The RMAT will verify the contents of the ballot box and present them to those present. They will then retrieve the ballots and perform a physical count of the ballots and compare the number of ballots found inside the ballot box to the number of votes cast. The two figures must be equal. If there is a discrepancy, the records and minutes will be consulted. The ballots will then be placed into piles of 100 ballots each. Each pile will be read and the votes will be recorded in the audit returns and tally board. The Comelec said that whatever discrepancy is found, the RMAT must first find out the probable reasons for variance and record it. This is in accordance with the RA 9369 provision on RMA, which says: “Any difference between the automated and manual count will result in the determination of root cause and initiate a manual count for those precincts affected by the computer or procedural error." After the RMA, the audit returns will be placed inside the ballot boxes and then sent to the municipal treasurer. Copies of the returns will also be supplied to the Comelec, TWG, dominant parties, and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas. The RMA is expected to be conducted continously until completed. —JV, GMANews.TV