Faulty VCMs affect polls in Pampanga

PAMPANGA. Numerous voters in Dau Central Elementary School complain about long queues due to glitches of vote counting machines and paper jams. (Rey Navales)
PAMPANGA. Numerous voters in Dau Central Elementary School complain about long queues due to glitches of vote counting machines and paper jams. (Rey Navales)

MABALACAT CITY -- Insufficient and faulty vote counting machines (VCMs) caused long queues in poll precincts in this city and other parts of Pampanga.

Many voters in Barangays Dau and San Francisco spent 30 minutes up to three hours in long lines.

Richard Bronola, election supervisor in Barangay San Francisco, said there were minor problems in the VCMs but these were repaired and restored by technicians dispatched by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

He said voters were also advised to stay in designated waiting areas to avoid long queues.

Bronola said the people preferred staying in lines.

Despite the glitches, Bronola said they are expecting a good turnout of up to more than 70 percent of the 7,000 voters in two villages of Santo Rosario and San Francisco.

"Wala naman pong major problems dito sa atin. Kung meron man, madali naman naayos ng ating mga technical people na galing sa Comelec," Bronola said.

He said unnecessary markings in the ballot will cause scanning problem in the VCMs.

Meanwhile, thousands of Kapampangan voters, including those in Masantol, Macabebe, Apalit, Sto. Tomas towns and at the City of San Fernando also reported the long lines in their designated precincts as they cast their votes Monday, May 13.

Voters, citing reports of election officers in their area, pointed the technical glitches to the VCMs and SD cards as the cause of unintended delay during the voting hours.

Comelec Provincial Officer Fernando Cot-om, meanwhile, confirmed that several polling precincts experienced technical glitches on their VCMs and SD cards. The glitches were, however, repaired.

“Doon sa mga VCMs walang problema since meron tayong contingency back-ups. Mas mahirap pag iyong mga SD cards ang nagkaproblema since kailangan pa iyon ipareconfigure, but so far, naging functional naman lahat,” Cot-om said.

Cot-om added that all clustered precincts and voting centers all over the province simultaneously opened at 6 a.m. Monday, May 13, and were able to accommodate the designated voters.

“100 percent po open nag-open lahat ng presinto natin and we are optimistic that we can finish this election organized and still on time,” he noted.

Cot-om said the local Comelec is expecting that all election returns may be completed and winners can be proclaimed before the night ends.

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