Significance of the 2008 ARMM Elections: Automation

Published March 5, 2009 12:28pm

Comelec and electoral reform advocates see the August 11, 2008 ARMM elections as a dry run for the modernized elections in May 2010. Comelec will use 2 kinds of technology:

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

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

The use of different kinds of automated election systems will allow Comelec to evaluate which between DRE and OMR is suitable for nationwide use in 2010.

The ARMM elections will gauge the extent automation can restrict or prevent fraud.

Tags: pollautomation,, poll,, automation