Comelec notes slightly higher voter turnout in second internet voting test run

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has observed a slightly higher voter turnout in their second internet voting test run.

In an online press briefing on Monday, Sept. 20, Comelec - Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) Director Sonia Bea Wee-Lozada said their second test run had 63 percent voter turnout which is higher than the 52 percent reported in the first test run.

"Compared to last week's internet voting activity, we experienced a slightly higher voter turnout this time," she said.

"If last time there were around a little over 400 who validated and participated in yhe voting activity out of the 669 test voters, this time we have 426 test voters who were able to successfully cast their votes. This is a turnout of over 63 percent of test voters for this round," added Lozada.

The Comelec conducted the second overseas internet voting test run from Sept. 18 to 20 this time with the system of Smartmatic.

The first test run was held Sept. 11 to 13 using the system of Voatz.

The poll official, however, believes that the high turnout cannot be attributed solely to the platform.

"I think the improvements or the better turnout is not solely attributable to the platform. There are other factors like the fact that their were reminder emails sent out. That may have increased. Probably there is some sort of a mental note on the part of some test voters to participate," Lozada said.

"But whether or not a purely browser based approach is something that would be better or something that we would recommend in Congress is still too early to say at this point until we get more data and perhaps more focus groups with ovverses votets to get their feedback," she added.