Months before the scheduled Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) slated in October, the idea of automating the said polls was floated, something the top official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) considers innovative.
In a message to reporters, Comelec Chairman Garcia said that the poll body will be studying if they can at least pilot test in certain areas or precincts the automation of the BSKE.
"I conveyed this matter to Honorable Cong. Barzaga during the sideline of the launching of RAP in the House of Reps. Therein, he informed me of the resolution he was about to file. This is an innovative idea indeed," he stated.
Given this, the poll body is looking at the possibility of pilot testing this as early as the BSKE in October.
Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, Jr. has urged the House of Representatives to study the possibility of automating the October 30 BSKE, saying it will not only yield faster results and proclamation of winners but also "prevent human intervention or error and confusion in the appreciation of ballot on an experimental basis on the BSK Elections in large barangays preferably in Metro Manila."
Barzaga on Wednesday (Jan. 25) filed House Resolution NO. 717 which directs the Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the "viability and feasibility of adopting the experimental use of the Automated Elections System (AES) in the Barangay and SK elections."
However, Garcia stated fully automating is unlikely at this point.
"We are halfway the printing of ballots for the conduct of manual elections," he said.