Thanks for the comment. It had been ages since I posted any item. I have a “sequel” to the post, in the near future, hopefully. Nonetheless, it’s nice to know someone here likes to do a research on the automated elections. I am also planning to do my MPA thesis on the topic.

Truth is, we in the COMELEC feel that the automated elections on May 10, 2010 was our “final practice” . There had been glitches here and there, but they say “all is well that ends well” and that’s what happened in our place. We were able to proclaim the winning local candidates in 2 days, a feat we never experienced before. And so, it works. PCOS works, CCS works and everybody here quite happy with the results.

Except, of course the “coalition of losers” who now wants to test the cf cards and count manually the ballots counted by the PCOS machines…well, talk of free media exposure for the next elections…

Anyway, thanks for the comment…All the best!

Patrickstarj

They say its hard to teach old dogs with new tricks. Its even harder to deprive daylight robbers of their source of income. Elections hereof are moneymaking ventures for them.

Our leaders make it appear that an election is a valid exercise of the citizens’ political rights and a n essential aspect of democracy. Give me a break. Its happy time for them. Its a circus.

Hence, with your young but assertive mind, you can do a lot more things to improve the system at your level. Who knows, someday, you’ll end up as one of the commissioners of the COMELEC…lol ,,, By then, we expect changes through you…

Try reading Windy’s comment. He’s got more…

Hi Bottom Lines,

Unquestionably, you got it where it hurts and I concur entirely with what you said. If I were to personally choose, we do our elections viva voce Lol That way, we save the billions of pesos allocated in every elections…

I do understand the three reasons you have explained. I hope I am not coming across and being cantankerous or intransigent over the matter. Some more dark thoughts. LOL!

The Philippines needs not a modern system for its National Elections. The Philippine politicians need to return to basic moral values and not flout the laws of the Country.

Machines neither guard against despicable human behavior nor does it in anyway assure honesty.

So, It looks like a conspiracy to fool the voters through the introduction and the use of something they do not quite understand. Then, it’s the fault of the machines while the suspicions and allegations of foul play will be up for more endless and useless talk because the common man will never understand how this automated system computes. Result? The conniving politicians are free of blame.

Automated Elections is a sheer waste of the taxpayers funds. Some people are en-richening their bank accounts with its introduction.

I have never been to India . Therefore, I cannot say how it is done there. But I have been to Indonesia frequently over the past 10 years. Indonesia is the fourth largest population in the World. By comparison to the Philippines, Indonesia would have a greater need for an Automated Election. Indonesian Corruption – it is well known, yet they will not waste finance, resources and energy since they are able to maintain a “dignified” National Elections without Automation. Besides, the Indonesians have shown improvement at their National Elections as they courageously fight corruption especially amongst their politicians and Government employed servants.

The Philippines faces brown outs randomly – everyday. The Philippine Government hasn’t a clue to ensure that there is sufficient Energy to support Automated Elections before, during and after the event.

Granted, purchase of back up Energy resources will be in their plans. Great way for the entire Country to go purchasing for the needed fuel generators just for the occasion – provided it works and the generators do not get misappropriated.

Frankly, if the moral fibre of dishonest and unscrupulous Philippine politicians does not redeem itself, modernisation clearly is not the solution.

Simple rule of thumb logic. When a problem cannot be contained and dealt with, more and new variables should never be added to the existing condition.

For whatever it is worth, we’ve got to try automated elections for 3 reasons. One, there was a law passed (Automated Elections Law) mandating our agency to conduct the same come May 2010. Two, a contract had already been entered into by COMELEC and Smartmatic-TIM, Inc. , the latter being the winning bidder for one of the most transparent and the most stringent bidding process undertaken by the COMELEC. And three, budget was already earmarked by Congress (P11.3 B) for purposes of automation. Hence, there is no escaping. We just have to implement the said law. However, if and when things won’t work as planned, at least, by then, we’ll know another way of doing a failure of elections..

But seriously, this automation is only a first step towards modernization of our elections here…Modernization of polling is one of the missions-visions of our agency…

I do not know what added value Automated Voting ala Digital Technology does for the National Elections – be it in the Philippines or anywhere else.

It is somewhat similar to how the Italian Mafia “legitimised” their operations in America.

If things cannot be done accurately and honestly with the Manual method, the Philippine Electoral College of Decision Makers ought to fix it and not venture into something totally new and untested.

This is another one that belongs to the “treating the symptoms and not cause”.

So, more money will be spent albeit the creation of additional jobs compared to the massive unemployment in the Country.

In the field of that Technology, there’s plenty of “Indian Braves” but no Chief. It is a can of Digital worms that often leaves those who have the knowledge of Computer Science at variance with one another.

Remember ex-President Bush’s second term re-election was the first time America went Automated and we all know the problems America had with it.

Simply – with rampant money politics and that manual counts are deemed inaccurate, I have serious doubts that machines will solve it.

DAMNocracy at its working best!