OUT of four accredited testing and certification laboratories in the US, Systest Labs has been chosen by poll body to certify the source codes of the voting machines to be used in the 2010 elections.

Source codes are sets of instructions programmed into the computer that specifies actions to be performed by the computer.

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Certification of the codes is very vital because it will ensure that no one can hack or tamper with the data on the computerized voting machines.

The Technical Evaluation Committee of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) chose Systest Labs for its extensive experience in testing every laboratory in the US.

Mark Philips, vice president of Compliant Services of Systest Labs, said they are now coordinating with Smartmatic, the supplier of the voting machines, and Comelec for the details of the project and day-by-day plan starting Wednesday until February 6 when the count will be issued.

“All partners are committed,” said Richard Soudiette, consultant of Systest Labs.

The source codes are now being protected. Reports on the testing and certification being conducted can be accessed but the source codes themselves are only within the hands of authorized people.

Soudiette said people all over the world are anticipating the outcome of this groundbreaking effort.

He also was able to read on the Internet the doubts were raised by the people who prefers the standard, traditional way of voting through pen and paper.

"I'm impressed that (Comelec) not only made conscious decisions (in spite of the opposition), they made actions based on these issues in order to create a methodology," he said.

This methodology is now being tested. According to Philips, every deficiency discovered is reported immediately. "We don't wait," he said.

"With all the anti-technology backlash, people should understand that technology is a tool," Soudiette added. (Angela Casauay/Sunnex)