LUCENA CITY – The Commission on Elections on Saturday, August 17, held a demonstration for the new automated counting machine in next year’s elections in a popular mall here.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, who led the event, said it will make voting more convenient and hassle-free for voters.
COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia explains the features of the new automated counting machine during a demonstration in a popular mall in Lucena City on August 17. (Danny Estacio)
The ACM has modern features such as smooth receptacle for the ballot and wide touch screen monitor for easy review of the votes cast.
It also has a fool-proof receptacle for the receipt after the voter confirms his votes, unlike in the past elections where it was just inserted in a yellow ballot box beside the machine.
“We immediately addressed the voters' doubt whether their vote is counted, because we received complaints in the past elections that voters were not sure if their vote was counted because their receipt is just placed in the yellow box," Garcia said.
Garcia also said that senior citizens, Persons with Disabilities (PWD), and pregnant women will now be able to cast their votes from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
He added that they preparing for internet voting for Filipinos abroad and mall voting for barangays around these commercial establishments.
Garcia encouraged deactivated voters to renew their registration. "Our records show that 5.2 million Filipinos were deactivated because they failed to vote during the 2022 elections and the barangay and SK (Sangguniang Kabataan) elections last year."
He appealed to young voters to participate in the elections. The country has 25 million young voters.
Garcia said they have yet to reach their target of 60 to 70 million voters. At present, the country has 52 million registered voters and Garcia said there won't be a registration extension. Registration ends September 30.