Some vote counting machines not working on Election Day

Some vote counting machines were found to be not working on the morning of Monday, May 13, Election Day.

The voting process was halted in one precinct in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao as the VCM was not working, according to GMA News' Jun Veneracion.

This resulted in long lines outside the precinct of voters who are observing Ramadan. Some of them were already complaining as regards the situation in the precinct.

According to the chairperson of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI), their VCM would be replaced so that the voting process in the said precinct will continue.

"Papalitan po namin 'yung VCM namin. Hintayin na lang namin 'yung VCM para continuous 'yung vote," the chairperson said.

Security measures have been tight in the area.

Davao del Sur

Meanwhile, according to a separate report by Ian Cruz, some voter registration verification machines (VRVMs) were not working at Apolinar Franco Sr. Elementary School in Davao del Sur.

The VRVMs aim to hasten the poll process for the May 2019 elections. With a scan of a fingerprint, VRVMs are programmed to determine whether a voter is listed at a specific polling precinct.

Kinumpirma ng voter registration verification machine (VRVM) na rehistradong botante ang senior citizen na si Ceriaco Betarmos kaya pinayagan siyang makaboto dito sa Buhangin Central Elem. School, Davao City @gmanews pic.twitter.com/hHESQd93jA

— Ian Cruz (@_iancruz) May 12, 2019

Due to this, teachers are checking the voter's list manually so that the voting process will continue.

There were also instances in which some names of voters were not on the list while other voters, who were already dead, were still on the list.

Citing data from authorities, Cruz said a total of 29 VCMs malfunctioned in the whole Davao province while more than 100 VRVMs failed to operate.

Jolo, Sulu

Meanwhile, a separate report by GMA News' Raffy Tima also said a VCM failed to operate in Mohammad Tulawie Central School in Jolo, Sulu.

Some VRVMs in another precinct were also not working. According to Tima, teachers decided to manually check the voters' list.

San Mateo, Rizal

Meanwhile, Super Radyo dzBB's Mark Makalalad reported that some ballots were also rejected by VCMs in San Mateo National High School.

The machines experienced paper jam, Makalalad reported.

#Eleksyon2019: Ilang mga balota, nire-reject ng mga vote counting machine (VCM) sa San Mateo National Highschool. | via @MMakalalad pic.twitter.com/fIkCCqd5tv

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 13, 2019

Malabon

In Malabon City National High School, three VCMs failed to operate, according to Super Radyo dzBB's Glen Juego.

Members of the BEI immediately reported the incident to Comelec.

"Noong na-report namin agad, inayos po agad ng technical support... Okay na po ngayon, ongoing na po, very smooth ang ginagawang botohan," a member of the BEI said.

Kidapawan City

Meanwhile, voting was delayed by two hours in Precinct IIIA in Barangay Balabag in Kidapawan City as the VCM was not working.

The BEI replaced the defective unit with another VCM from the contingency pool, but it was found out that the SD card of the replacement unit was also defective, according to Josephine Macapas, acting election supervisor.

“Again, this is beyond our control. We have nothing to do about it. We must push through the casting of votes and collect the ballots while we are fixing the SD card,” she said.

Macapas said that once the SD card is fixed, the BEI will feed the shaded ballots into the VCM in the presence of poll watchers.

Voting in the said precinct commenced at around 8 a.m.

Voters did not mind the heat of the sun and remained in line to cast their votes.

Marawi City

Meanwhile, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) - Marawi City, all VRVMs in the area malfunctioned which prompted teachers to manually check the voter's list.

Moreover, two VCMs also failed to operate. However, the Comelec said it is ready to replace those machines.

San Juan City

Meanwhile, a replacement of a VCM that malfunctioned in San Juan City in Metro Manila already arrived.

GMA News' Nelson Canlas reported that the defective VCM was at Precinct 81 in Sta. Lucia Elementary School, the same precinct where senatorial candidate Grace Poe was to cast her vote.

"So far, hindi pa po talaga siya gumagana. Na-try na po namin lahat ng troubleshooting, 'di pa rin siya gumagana. Sabi ng Comelec, maghintay na lang kami ng panibagong machine," Rechie Bagalay, member of the BEI, said.

Poe arrived in the precinct earlier, but left because of the defective machine.

She said she will just return to cast her vote.

Palawan

In Puerto Princesa, Palawan, smoke came out of a VCM in a clustered precinct, according to a report on Super Radyo dzBB by Rod Evangelista.

Vote counting machine (VCM) sa isang clustered precinct sa Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, umusok. | via Rod Evangelista, Super Radyo Palawan @dzbb

— GMA News (@gmanews) May 13, 2019

 Legazpi City, Albay 

Citing data from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), GMA News' Mariz Umali reported that around 10 VCMs malfunctioned in Legazpi City, Albay.

This made voters wait for almost three hours just to cast their votes.

The precinct in the area already shifted to manual voting.

Bacoor, Cavite

Meanwhile, it took a few hours to replace a VCM that malfunctioned in Precinct 427 in Bacoor, Cavite, according to a report by GMA News' Chino Gaston.

The voting process, however, continued.

Ilocos Norte

In Ilocos Norte, where there are more or less 2,500 registered voters, the voting situation is generally peaceful, according to a report by GMA News' Cata Tibayan.

One VCM just experienced "mild overheat" this afternoon; but voting process still continued. —Anna Felicia Bajo and Williamor Magbanua/KG/RSJ/KBK, GMA News