If automation fails, we go manual again—Comelec

Returning to the manual counting votes would be easy in case the automated system fails during the coming May polls, Commission on Election (Comelec) officials reiterated on Saturday. In a forum aired over radio dzMM, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez maintained that manual counting would still be possible should the automated system encounter problems in May, since the same paper ballots would still be used either way in the upcoming elections. “Automation is a system added to the manual system to make it faster and easier. So going back to manual counting would not be a problem if ever there will be problems," Jimenez said in Filipino during the forum. Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal also assured the public that the poll body has contingency plans if some counting machines fail to operate on election day itself. “If there will be problems, there are contingency plans to ensure that we can go back to the ballot. The automated system is still paper-based. That’s what’s important," he said in the same forum. Larrazabal however emphasized that the Comelec is still striving for 100-percent poll automation across the country in May. “Kung may problema, hanapan mo ng solusyon. ‘Yung mga glitches, hinahanapan na ng solusyon, para sa elections, 100 percent successful ang automation (If there are problems, then look for solutions. About those glitches, we’re looking for solutions, so that automation can have 100-percent success on election day)," he said. Larrazabal was referring to glitches encountered by precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, which failed to read some ballots and to transmit the resulting count during the field test in Pateros on Friday. (See: Glitches hound 2nd field test of Comelec’s voting machines] The machine glitches have caused several groups, including militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), to express concern on the level of preparedness of the poll body to carry out the automations with just 14 weeks to go before election day. “The Comelec and Smartmatic people seemed ill-prepared to cope with the problems. With 100 days left till election day, we are concerned that there may not be enough time to address these crucial problems," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said in a statement on Saturday. Larrazabal however said that the poll body has directed Smartmatic-TIM, the consortium that supplied the PCOS machines, to look into possible reasons and solutions for the glitches. A report on these will be made available to the media on Monday, according to the commissioner.—JV, GMANews.TV