Comelec still undecided on voting machines 10 months before 2016 polls

With 10 months to go before the 2016 presidential elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has yet to decide on the machines to be used during the polls, GMA 7 news program "24 Oras" reported on Monday.



Before making a final decision, the Comelec will check the results of the second bidding for the repair of the old PCOS machines. The contract was valued at P3.1 billion.

If the bidding fails again, the commission will enter into a direct contract for the refurbishment of the old machines, or for the purchase of new ones. New machines will cost Comelec more than P7 billion.

"Kapag tinitignan mo sa presyo, sa cost, siyempre mas mura ang refurbishment. Ngayon, kung sa oras, ang sabi sa akin mas madaling gumawa ng bagong makina kaysa mag-refurbish ng luma. Tapos, ang isa pa pong issue na ang dapat nating timbangin is iyong tinatawag nga pong technical risk," Comelec chairperson Andres Bautista explained.

Nevertheless, the Comelec has decided on one matter and that was to cross off hybrid elections from its list. "Basta ang aming direksyon is automated elections in 2016," said Bautista.

Alternative

Meanwhile, election watch group AES Watch suggested an alternative to the PCOS machines.

Invented by father-son tandem Arnold and Angelo Villasanta, the Tapat Election Technology uses a lotto-like mechanism.

Instead of names of the candidates, each candidate will have a designated number in the ballots. There will be a separate list of candidates with their photos and designated numbers for the voters' reference.

"Pagkatapos mong ma-scan o mabasa ng tablet ang balota mo, puwede mong ma-compare. Ang image at ang balota," AES Watch spokesperson Nelson Celis explained.

The Comelec, including Bautista and its officials, National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera, and superstar Nora Aunor, held mock elections using the machine on Monday.

According to AES Watch, one Tapat Election Technology machine will only cost P20,000 while a PCOS machine will cost Comelec almost P90,000. — Trisha Macas/DVM, GMA News