Backers of automated polls elated by field test results; telcos asked to help

THE success of last Wednesday’s field testing in 10 precincts throughout the country gave people behind the automated polls more reasons to believe it will push through in May.

“It was a confidence-building level for everyone involved in the project,” said Smartmatic-TIM spokesman and public relations manager Gene Gregorio in a briefing for members of the media at UCC Café in Ayala Terraces yesterday.

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Gregorio, however, said that after the glitch they experienced with the subscriber identity module (SIM) of one of the telecommunications company (telcos), they plan to remind them of their responsibility in the contract and how the Commission on Elections and Smart-matic chose them since they trust that they won’t have intermittent network signals during election day.

During the field testing in Pateros, the SIM card of one Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine had to be replaced for the unit to transmit data.

For Cebu, Gregorio said they have already identified possible areas of concern and have reminded telcos of their responsibility to ensure continuous signal. However, they expect to see the situation improve during the scheduled mock polls next week.

He said they will document the problems so these could be addressed.

With 100 days to go before the election, the Smartmatic-TIM official also said they expect better coordination with the telcos during the polls.

In yesterday’s briefing, a sample ballot was rejected by the PCOS machine during the testing.

But Miguel Avila, Smartmatic-TIM’s demonstrations and presentations coordinator, said the PCOS machine is “very strict” about how the ballot is placed into the feeder.

He reminded the participants, however, that a voter is given only two tries to insert the ballot into the machine.

However, if the PCOS machine still won’t accept it, the voter may approach the Board of Election Inspectors for assistance.

Avila said, though, that there’s a big chance that it is a marked ballot, and it will never be accepted by the machine.

He explained the security features of the ballot, like the use of a unique bar code for each, the UV ink used so it can’t be duplicated. Each one is precinct-specific.

Ballots assigned to a precinct cannot be used by voters in another precinct.

Each machine is limited to accept 1,000 ballots inserted by voters who will vote manually by shading ovals.

Only the casting and counting of votes, the transmission and canvassing of election results are automated, Avila said.
Also yesterday, the “Facebook of Politics” was launched in Cebu.

Chat

Racquel Cagurangan, general manager of politicalarena.com, presented the features of the networking site, which aims to give information about candidates running for national positions.

A corporate social responsibility project of job site jobsdb.com, it recorded 484,815 visits and 1.358 million page views as of Jan. 12 or an average of 3,000 visits daily.

Cagurangan said they will feature a live chat with presidential candidates next month so voters can ask questions online.

“This is intended for people who want to make intelligent choices,” she said.

Mary Ann Tolentino of Smartmatic, for her part, also urged voters to visit ibanangayon.ph and bagongbotante.ph to learn more about the automated polls.

Meanwhile, Bairan, Naga Barangay Captain Rufino Sabanal told Sun.Star Cebu that residents of his barangay were surprised by the use of PCOS machines during Wednesday’s field testing.

“Medyo nabag-ohan sila kay dili kayo sila kaantigo mugamit anang mga poll machines (it was a new experience for them),” said Sabanal. (CYR/With JKV)