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Comelec OK with suggestions to lower qualifications for next VCM service provider

Philippines

Comelec OK with suggestions to lower qualifications for next VCM service provider

By Martin Sadongdong

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) welcomed on Saturday, May 14, the reported suggestion of the Senate to lower the qualifications on interested service providers of vote counting machines (VCMs) for future polls.

Teachers acting as members of the electoral board conduct the final testing and sealing of vote counting machines (VCMs) at the San Juan Elementary School as witnessed by Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan in San Juan City on May 3 2022, less than a week before the 2022 national and local elections. (Noel B. Pabalate)

“All of the suggestions of our Congress are taken into heart by the Commission,” Comelec acting spokesperson Director John Rex Laudiangco said in a press briefing.

The Comelec is eyeing to retire the VCMs that it had used in this year’s elections after these were also utilized in the past three automated polls in 2016 and 2019.

Senator Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate committee on electoral reform, reportedly suggested that the Comelec should lower its qualifications for interested bidders who want to provide VCM services.

“We will be surely considering that especially for the next elections,” Laudiangco said.

“We thank the good senator for the suggestion,” he added.

Related Tags

qualifications service provider 5142022 Comelec VCMs

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