Comelec to hold mock polls on Saturday, launch new voter verifier system

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will hold a mock midterm elections on Saturday to ensure the functionality of the vote counting machines and the integrity of the May 2019 automated polls, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said Thursday.

Jimenez said the mock polls will be conducted in Quezon City, Manila, Pasig, Taguig, Pateros, Valenzuela City, Muntinlupa City, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Cebu, Bohol, Zamboanga del Norte, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Sulu and Basilan.

Jimenez said the mock polls will use the Vote Counting Machines (VCM) utilized during the 2016 polls which will print a receipt once the votes are counted. Likewise, the VCM will print eight copies of election returns once the voting is over so candidates and their watchers can easily monitor the votes cast.

“Each ballot is unique, kaya pag naisubo mo ang balota mo [sa Vote Counting Machines], hindi na siya tatanggapin kapag ipinasok mo ito ulit. At dahil magpi-print ang VCM ng election returns, alam mo na agad ang resulta [sa presinto na iyon], bago pa ang canvassing," Jimenez said.

There will be 100 voters who can cast their vote from 6 a.m. to 12 noon per precinct during the mock polls across the country, except for three precincts in the National Capital Region (NCR) which include Barangay Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City, Barangay Bahay Toro in Quezon City and Barangay 699 in Manila where the voting period will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. because these precincts would accommodate 1,000 voters at the maximum.

Jimenez said three precincts which will have more voters to accommodate and longer voting time since these precincts will use the new Voter Registration Verification System (VRVS) machines for pilot testing.

Voters who will cast their vote in precincts with VRVS would have their identities verified in the VRVS system either by 1) having their fingerprint scanned or 2) manually searching their names on the system by typing their names on the keyboard of the VRVS.

The VRVS would then print a receipt on thermal paper confirming that the voter is registered in the system and would now be given a ballot by the election board members stationed in the precinct.

“We felt that this (VRVS) is a solution worth pursuing, kasi laging problema ‘yung  [mga pangalan ng botante] na nawawala sa listahan, hindi ma-verify [kung registered voter], ‘yung nagagamit ang identity ng [ibang] tao, ‘yung flying voters,” Jimenez said at a press conference.

“Before, we have used biometrics behind the scenes since we collected biometrics data of the people and we implemented no biometrics, no boto. But the idea is further down the road, once the technology allows it, we will use the biometrics upfront. This [use of VRVS] is the trajectory,” Jimenez added.

The VRVS will be used in certain areas in the May 2019 polls which include: Pangasinan, Manila, Quezon Ctiy, Cebu, Cavite, Davao del Sur and Zamboanga del Sur.

While the VRVS could increase the voting time from five to 10 minutes, Jimenez said that such delay would only be a case of birth pains.

“Magkakaroon ng onting impact in the sense na madadagdagan ang oras, but once the VRVS process is fully implemented, bibilis na ang proses kasi hindi mo na kailangan mag lift thru sa book [para makita ang pangalan mo],” Jimenez said.

“Magkakaroon ng time saved in the long run. Hindi ‘yan (pagboto) lalampas ng sampung minuto,” he added. — RSJ, GMA News