ACMs performed well in Eleksyon 2025 — Comelec, LENTE

The automated counting machines (ACM) deployed in this year’s midterm elections were able to do their job despite reports of glitches, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Maki Pulido reported in “24 Oras” on Tuesday that there were instances ACMs had technical issues in several precincts causing long queues that even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had to feed his ballot two times when he cast his vote.

But Comelec said the ACMs still performed better this year as compared to the previous elections.

The poll body noted there were almost 2,000 vote counting machines that were replaced during the 2022 national elections.

This year, only 311 machines were replaced and this was due to minor issues.

“The ACM and the automated election system performed well. In fact, more than our expectations. Nagpakalat kami ng 16,000 contingency machines and yet 311 lang yung nagamit, so ganun po kaganda ang performance ng ACM,” said Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco.

Laudiangco noted that it is not a guarantee that there would be no problems when brand new machines are used.

"Dumi, dust, foreign objects, lilinisin lang sana 'yan, 'yung scanner, pero sabi nga namin kung magtatagal pang linisin, palitan na natin," he said.

LENTE, Miru Systems feedback

Election watchdog LENTE or Legal Network for Truthful Elections, in its initial assessment, believes the ACMs so far performed well in the midterm elections.

But the group pointed out that a full assessment will only be given after the conduct of the random manual audit or RAM in which ballots are counted manually and the results are compared to the votes counted by the machine.

“I think it’s a good direction na dapat naman talaga ready tayo for contingencies hindi naman talaga 100% ‘yan in terms of equipment. But I guess the contingency plans are actually working right now,” said Helen Graido, LENTE director for electoral and technology policies.

(I think it’s a good direction that we are ready for contingencies because we cannot assure 100% performance in terms of equipment. But the contingency plans are actually working right now.) 

On the other hand, South Korean firm Miru Systems Inc., despite minimal issues the conduct of elections was favorable.

"... with minimal technical issues, the May 12 2025 NLE is a significant improvement on Philippine electoral exercises affording Filipinos a leveled up voting experience," the company said in a statement.

“With all technical concerns having been addressed immediately, uninterrupted voting and a more seamless experience for the Filipino voter have now become standard hallmarks of Philippine Elections,” the company said in a statement.

The firm also noted that the voting process is much faster this time because of their PWD-friendly machines significantly reducing incidents of paper jamming, and faster processing. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News

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