Poll automation timeline

July 1992  --  Under then Commission on Elections Chair Christian Monsod’s term, Operation MODEX (Modernization and Excellence) was born during a strategic seminar in Tagaytay City. Modernization of the electoral process was identified as one of the eight components of the six-year modernization program from 1992 to 1998.

THREE PHASES OF COMELEC'S POLL AUTOMATION completion and cleansing of database of registered voters automation of counting and canvassing of votes electronic data transfer of election results Modernization of the electoral process is identified as one of the eight components of Comelec’s Operation MODEX, a six-year modernization program supposedly from 1992 to 1998. RA 8436 authorized poll automation beginning with the 1998 elections.

June - October 1993  --  With the help of private institutions, Comelec conducts studies on the appropriate technology for computerized elections. Optical mark sense technology emerges as the best suited for Philippine elections.

1994  --  United States-based companies conduct equipment demonstrations; Business Records Corporation (BRC) of Texas is chosen as supplier, but no contract is signed pending the passage of a law allowing the use of a new system. Comelec conducts public demonstrations using BRC equipment.

June 7, 1995  --  Republic Act 8046 authorizes the Comelec to conduct a nationwide demo of a computerized election system and pilot-test it in the March 1996 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections. Comelec presents the new election system to then President Fidel Ramos in Malacañang.

November 1995  --  After the bidding procedures is repeated due to change in the Comelec administration, the poll body accepts the bid of American Information Systems, Inc (AIS). Comelec presents the new machine in the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms's public hearings held in La Union and Baguio City.

December 29, 1995  --  RA 8176 postpones the March 1996 ARMM elections to September 9, 1996.

January 1996  --  Comelec signs contract with AIS. The company delivers to Comelec 42 machines, each costing more than  US $15  thousand. More demos and trainings are held.

September 9, 1996  --  The new system is pilot-tested in the ARMM elections. Comelec says the test is successful, but a March 2000 Senate oversight committee says the machines “failed in terms of speed and accuracy."

1997  --  Comelec continues to demonstrate to the public the automation technology.

December 22, 1997  --  RA 8436 authorizes poll automation beginning with the 1998 elections.

February 1998  --  Comelec buys additional 26 machines from AIS, now known as Election Systems and Software, whose machines would later figure in several controversies in US elections for malfunctioning. 

May 11, 1998  --  Only the elections in Lanao de Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi are automated due to lack of time and funding. Due to printing and handling errors, some of the counting machines reject pre-printed ballots.

2001  --  Failed biddings and lack of time -- according to Comelec -- stalls automation project.

October 29, 2002  --  In its Resolution No. 02-0170, the Comelec adopts a modernization program for the 2004 elections.

January 24, 2003  --  President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issues Executive Order No. 172,  ordering the Department of Budget and Management to  allocat e  “from existing appropriations and other sources authorized by law" P2.5 billion exclusively to fund the automation of the May 10, 2004 elections. The following month, EO 175 authorizes the release of a supplemental P500 million budget. 

April 15, 2003  --  Comelec awards the Php1.3 billion contract for automated counting machines to Mega Pacific Consortium. The machines are delivered in batches later that year.

August 5, 2003  --  The Information Technology Foundation of the Philippines files a petition with the Supreme Court to stop the Comelec from implementing the contract and conduct a rebidding of the project.

January 13, 2004  --  SC voids the Comelec-Mega Pacific contract for “clear violation of law and jurisprudence" and “reckless disregard of [Comelec’s] own bidding rules and procedure."  Automation is further stalled.

June 15, 2005  --  SC denies Comelec motion to use the procured automated counting machines for the August 8, 2005 ARMM elections.

January 23, 2007  --  RA 9369 amends RA 8436 and authorizes a pilot test in the 2007 barangay and SK elections. Comelec decides not to use automated system saying there is no need to consolidate the votes and the time is not enough.

2008  --  Comelec prepares to use two kinds of automated technology in the 2008 ARMM elections: 

• Touch-screen or touchpad voting through Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) in the province of Maguindanao
   

• Optical Mark Reader (OMR), where paper ballots are counted using machines, for the provinces of Shariff Kabunsuan, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi

Source: GMA News Research