Automation in Election

Commission on Election had ordered the full automation of the 2008 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. This coming August 11 these machines will be used in Maguindanao and in Lanao del Sur. Today a demo had been shown to the public in the Senate of the Philippines on how it works. Direct RecordingElectronic (DRE) and the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) technologies will be use for the ARMM elections.The DRE allows voting through touch screen or touch pad while the OMR requires voters to fill up a paper ballot which is then tallied through the use of the automated counting machine. According to Sen. Richard Gordon, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi should be included to places that will experience electronic automation this coming election. I learned that these electoral machines can count 100 ballots per minute. With the utilization of these machines, recording,tallying and sending of results will be easier for working individuals during the election period. I am hoping that this will mark as a good turn to have a cleaner and more peaceful election. It hurts when we hear news about people being threatened, kidnapped and even killed during election.

Automated Machines in Election Period

Lasts year's election is observed to be an uncleaned one specially in Mindanao Regions. Election didn't start at the right time because some of the teachers were not able to report to their respective assigned schools! Ballot boxes were missing! Some of the registered voters are not on the list! I'm uncertain if there were bomb threats to the schools during the election period in Muslim regions that made the residence to choose not to vote than to put their lives at risk. A solution was given by the commission on election as well as the senate of the Philippines. There will be automated machines to be used.After a thorough studies on using these machines, contract for the automation project, including the acquisition of vote counting machines, has been awarded by the Comelec Bids and Awards Committee. This is a good step to clean an election. Works will be eased. In addition, this is a great help in those regions where cheating is highly apparent. Lives will be saved and more reliable results can be submitted. I just hope that this coming 2010 presidential election,it will be a just and credible one.