CLOSE to 4,000 vote counting machines (VCM) assigned to Cebu Province for the May 13 elections will be turned over to city and municipal treasurers within this week.
The VCMs are used in the voting, counting and transmission of election results from the precinct level.
In an interview on Monday, April 29, Acting Provincial Elections Supervisor Jerome Brillantes said they will distribute the VCMs on Friday, May 3 at the latest.
“(Based on initial screening), the VCMs are okay so far. They are secured,” he added.
A total of 3,716 VCMs are assigned to Cebu Province. They are currently stored in a private courier’s hub located in Mandaue City and are guarded by a Special Weapons and Tactics team.
The VCM is distinct to provinces, municipalities and certain precincts.
This means that each machine is assigned to a specific precinct and cannot be interchanged with other VCMs of other precincts because it goes with a specific set of official ballots.
Brillantes said they will conduct a synchronized final testing and sealing of the VCMs in the province on May 10.
As part of its contingency plan, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) central office has also prepared at least 400 back-up VCMs that will be deployed to cities and municipalities in the province.
As for the official ballots, Brillantes said they are expected to arrive between May 3 and 5.
Last Friday, the Comelec announced that it already finished printing the more than 63 million ballots for the midterm polls.
The election office has also started shipping the official ballots to far-flung areas.
Of the 63 million ballots printed, around 61.8 million are local ballots, while the rest will be used in the final testing and sealing of the VCMs and for demonstrations, among others. (RTF)