Professional Documents
Culture Documents
& Onghanseng
LAW OFFICES
18 March 2015
This legal opinion seeks to answer your question as to which electoral system is more
suitable for our country’s present situation. The Philippine electoral system has shifted from
manual elections to the automated elections in 2010 yet there are still some questions as to which
particular electoral system is best. You will find a brief history of the country’s electoral system
below, including a comparison of the two electoral systems in question, the problems and
benefits associated with each, my recommendation as to which system will benefit the country
more, and a proposal as to how we can further improve the system.
If you have any more questions concerning this issue, feel free to reach me at my office
between the hours of eight in the morning to five in the afternoon.
Yours faithfully,
1
A Comparison of the Manual Electoral System
and the
18 March 2015
2
Introduction
“The Philippines is a democratic and republican state. Sovereignty resides in the people
The People of the Philippines represent the sovereign power of the State. This power is
exercised by the electorate whom the people have chosen. The citizens make choices by voting
position or office, usu. a public office.2 It gives the People the chance to choose their
representatives who will be discharging sovereign functions on their behalf. Ideally, elections
government policy.’ It is a mechanism through which politicians are held accountable for their
actions, and are compelled to introduce policies that are reflective of and responsive to public
opinion 3
The idea of elections were imported from the West. In 1901, during the American period,
the Philippine Commission, under the supervision of the United States governor, performed both
legislative and executive acts, with a little participation from the Philippines. Soon, the
Americans introduced the elections “to allow greater participation of the Filipino elite in colonial
3
governance.” 4 The Americans laid down the foundation for municipal, provincial, and national
elections.
At first, the Americans conducted municipal elections in areas that were pacified by
military rule. The first election held in the country was in Baliwag, Bulacan, under American
supervision, followed by elections in four other municipalities as per compliance with General
An act was passed under the Commission which served as the organic law for all
In general, it states that only the educated elite may participate. This created conflict among
those who were not qualified but this did not prevent the Commission from continuing to work
on a legal framework that would produce a more systematic organization of local governments.
4 “Electoral Politics in the Philippines,” in Croissant, A., Bruns, G., & John, M (Eds.), Electoral Politics
in Southeast & East Asia Singapore: Freidrich Ebert Stiftung, 2002, 150.
5 “Electoral Politics in the Philippines,” in Croissant, A., Bruns, G., & John, M (Eds.), Electoral Politics
in Southeast & East Asia Singapore: Freidrich Ebert Stiftung, 2002, 150-151.
4
From the municipal elections of 1901, to the legislative elections in 1907, until the 1935
presidential elections, the Americans built electoral process from the municipality upwards.
Commonwealth of the Philippines was established. This created the position of president and
vice president and a unicameral legislature called the National Assembly.6 This was the first
national elections held in the Philippines. By 1937, women’s right to suffrage was approved in a
special plebiscite, wherein women who possessed the qualifications required for male voters,
were allowed to vote for the first time. All election laws were also consolidated in an Election
Code (Commonwealth Act No. 357) in 1939, empowering the secretary of the interior to
supervise all kinds of elections. By 1940, several amendments in the Constitution were enacted
including an amendment establishing the bicameral legislature, leaving behind the unicameral
legislature the Commonwealth of the Philippines created in 1934. Among these amendments
also included the establishment of the COMELEC or the Commission on Elections, the national
electorate authority, whose primary duty was “to insulate the electoral process from partisan
politics.”7
to four years, and the term of the Senate to six years. One third or eight members of the Senate
are renewed every two years by plurality in a national eight-member constituency. Each voter is
6Fernando, Katrina et al. ”1935 Plebiscite”. Philippine Electoral Almanac. Web. 15 March 2015. http://
pcdspo.gov.ph/pub/uploads/Electoral-Almanac.pdf
7 “Electoral Politics in the Philippines,” in Croissant, A., Bruns, G., & John, M (Eds.), Electoral Politics
in Southeast & East Asia Singapore: Freidrich Ebert Stiftung, 2002, 154.
5
given eight votes (Hartmann, Hassall and Santos, 2001).8 From 1946 up until 1971, two major
political parties dominated Philippines politics. Each party took turns taking the presidency and
controlling both houses. However, the declaration of Martial Law in 1972 stopped all political
activities. Elections were cancelled for six years, and upon its revival, the Marcos regime began
changing the system from a two-party political system to a one-part dominance. It introduced
the barangay elections to replace the barrio as the basic unit of local governance prior to former
president Marcos’ assumption to power. Elections in the autonomous regions were also done to
pacify the separatist movement of the Moro National Liberation Front. Despite these electoral
exercises, Marcos’ authoritarian power allowed for the manipulation of the rules of the
electorate. Protests started pouring left and right, following the assassination of former senator
Benigno Aquino, Jr. In an attempt to show political legitimacy, former president Marcos called
for a snap election in 1985, with former Senator Aquino’s widow as his opponent. The rest as we
know, is history.
Under our Constitution, the president and vice president now have a term of six years, the
president ineligible for any re-election. The Philippine Congress consists of the Senate and the
House of Representatives, with half of the 24 senators nationally elected. Members of Congress
are likewise elected but every three years from single-member districts. These electoral
8 “Electoral Politics in the Philippines,” in Croissant, A., Bruns, G., & John, M (Eds.), Electoral Politics
in Southeast & East Asia Singapore: Freidrich Ebert Stiftung, 2002, 155.
6
Electoral Systems in the Philippines
The Republic of the Philippines began with the manual election process. Despite the
occupations by foreign nationals in the country, this has long been the traditional way of voting.
However, this method has proven to be quite ineffective and inefficient because it provides for
opportunities of possible electoral fraud activities such as ballot switching, vote buying, vote
shaving, etc., and slow election results. In comparison to other countries, it takes several days for
the results to come out. This is the reason why the automated electoral system has been
proposed. It is seen as a more efficient way of conducting the elections with less room for
possible electoral fraud. Since its proposal in 1992, the Philippines has been able to administer
its first automated election system in 2010, through the use of PCOS (Precinct Count Optical
Scan) machines.
In the Philippines, voting is held in various schools designated as polling precincts. Votes
are cast by writing the names of your preferred candidates on sheets of paper we call ballots.
The ballot is then dropped in a steel box which is called the ballot box. Indelible ink is then
dropped on the voter’s finger as a sign that he has already voted. Before anyone can vote, he
must first be a registered voter in the city or municipality in which he resides. Republic Act
Registration, Prescribing The Procedures Thereof And Authorizing The Appropriation Of Funds
7
Therefor, which amended portions of Article XII of the Omnibus Election Code provides the
9 An Act Providing For A General Registration Of Voters, Adopting A System Of Continuing Registration,
Prescribing The Procedures Thereof And Authorizing The Appropriation Of Funds Therefor, R.A. 8189
§4 (1996).
8
years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for
at least one (1) year, and in the place wherein they propose to
vote, for at least six (6) months immediately preceding the
election, may register as a voter.
9
Profession, occupation or work
Periods of residence in the Philippines and in the place of
registration;
Exact address with the name of the street and house number
for location in the precinct maps maintained by the local
office of the Commission, or in case there is none, a brief
description of his residence, sitio, and barangay;
10
Any person who has been sentenced by final judgment to
suffer imprisonment of not less than one (1) year, such
disability not having been removed by plenary pardon or
amnesty: Provided, however, That any person disqualified to
vote under this paragraph shall automatically reacquire the
right to vote upon expiration of five (5) years after service of
sentence;
11
Sec. 13. Change of Address in the Same City or Municipality.
- Any voter who has changed his address in the same city or
municipality shall immediately notify the Election Officer in
writing. If the change of address involves a change in
precinct, the Board shall transfer his registration record to the
precinct book of voters of his new precinct and notify the
voter of his new precinct All changes of address shall be
reported to the office of the provincial election supervisor and
the Commission in Manila.
The attestation shall state the name of the person assisted, the
name of the Election Officer or the member of the accredited
citizen's arm who assisted the applicant, the fact that the
Election Officer placed the applicant under oath, that the
Election Officer or the member of the accredited citizen's arm
who assisted the applicant read the accomplished form to the
person assisted, and that the person assisted affirmed its truth
and accuracy, by placing his thumbmark or some other
customary mark on the application in the presence of the
Board.
12
The application for registration of a physically disabled
person may be prepared by any relative within the fourth civil
degree of consanguinity or affinity or by the Election Officer
or any member of an accredited citizen's arm using the data
supplied by the applicant. The fact of illiteracy or disability
shall be so indicated in the application.10
Part III: Permanent Birth and Name Code Unique to the Voter
13
The letter, C, stands for the month, i.e., A for January, B for
February, and so forth;
The next two digits, 14, stand for the date of birth;
The next two digits, 51, stand for the year of birth; and
The last three letters, BCD, stand for the name code, i.e.,
Bayani Cruz Davide.
The last three letters shall stand for the first letter of the first
name, the middle name, and the last name in that order.
In summary, every polling precinct must have a permanent list of voters consisting of all
registered voters within their municipality. Each voter who possesses the qualifications must
register in their respective municipalities indicating their name, age, sex, residence, among
others. An identification card will then be issued in their name after a successful registration.
Once a voter has been duly registered, he will be allowed to participate in the upcoming
election. During the election day, the Board of Election Inspectors and the Chairman shall
14
inspect and empty all ballot boxes and exhibit them as empty to all those present. Only the
voters casting their vote, the voters waiting for their turn, the Board of Election Inspectors,
watchers, and representatives of the Commission on Elections shall be allowed inside the polling
precincts. Voters shall vote in the order of their entrance in the polling precinct, and once their
identity is verified, the Chairman will give one and only one folded ballot to each voter. Each
voter shall proceed to an unoccupied voting booth and in no way shall he be allowed to enter
another voting booth occupied by another voter. He will then write the name of the candidate he
desires to vote for in the proper space. Upon completion of the ballot, he shall return it to the
Chairman for inspection, and if everything is order, it shall be dropped in the ballot box.
Sample Ballot
15
Sec. 191. Preliminaries to the voting. -
The board of election inspectors shall meet at the polling
place at six-thirty o'clock in the morning of election day and
shall have the book of voters containing all the approved
applications of registration of voters pertaining to the polling
place, the certified list of voters, the certified list of
candidates, the ballot box, the official ballots, sufficient
indelible pencils or ball pens for the use of the voters, the
forms to be used, and all other materials which may be
necessary.
16
The chairman and the two party members of the board of
election inspectors shall retain in their possession their
respective keys to the padlocks during the voting.
The box shall remain locked until the voting is finished and
the counting begins. However, if it should become necessary
to make room for more ballots, the board of election
inspectors may open the box in the presence of the whole
board of election inspectors and the watchers, and the
chairman shall press down with his hands the ballots
contained therein without removing any of them, after which
the board of election inspectors shall close the box and lock it
with three padlocks as hereinbefore provided.
17
extra-legal police officers, to enter any polling place, unless it
is his polling place where he will vote but in such case he
should immediately leave the polling place, no policeman or
peace officer shall be allowed to enter or stay inside the
polling place except when there is an actual disturbance of
the peace and order therein. However, the board of election
inspectors upon majority vote, if it deems necessary, may
make a call in writing, duly entered in the minutes, for the
detail of a policeman or any peace officer for their protection
or for the protection of the election documents and
paraphernalia, in which case, the said policeman or peace
officer shall stay outside the polling place within a radius of
thirty meters near enough to be easily called by the board of
election inspectors at any time, but never at the door, and in
no case shall the said policeman or peace officer hold any
conversation with any voter or disturb or prevent or in any
manner obstruct the free access of the voters to the polling
place. It shall likewise be unlawful for any barangay official
to enter and stay inside any polling place except to vote or
except when serving as a watcher or member of the board of
election inspectors, in which case, he shall leave the polling
place immediately after voting.
Sec. 193. Order of voting. - The voters shall vote in the order
of their entrance into the polling place. The voters shall have
the right to freely enter the polling place as soon as they
arrive unless there are voters waiting inside, in which case
they shall fall in line in the order of their arrival and shall not
crowd around the table of the board of election inspectors.
The voters after having cast their votes shall immediately
depart.
18
identity of the voter, the board of election inspectors shall
check his voter's identification card or, if he does not have
any, the board of election inspectors shall refer to his
photograph and signature in the voter's application for
registration. If the board of election inspectors is satisfied
with his identity, the chairman shall distinctly announce the
voter's name in a tone loud enough to be plainly heard
throughout the polling place. If such voter has not been
challenged, or if having been challenged, the question has
been decided in his favor, the voter shall forthwith affix his
signature in the proper space in the voting record, and the
chairman shall, after first entering the number of the ballot in
the corresponding space of the voting record, deliver to the
voter one ballot correctly folded. No person other than the
chairman shall deliver official ballots nor shall more than one
ballot be delivered at one time.
19
Sec. 196. Preparation of ballots for illiterate and disabled
persons. - A voter who is illiterate or physically unable to
prepare the ballot by himself may be assisted in the
preparation of his ballot by a relative, by affinity or
consanguinity within the fourth civil degree or if he has none,
by any person of his confidence who belong to the same
household or any member of the board of election inspectors,
except the two party members: Provided, That no voter shall
be allowed to vote as illiterate or physically disabled unless it
is so indicated in his registration record: Provided, further,
That in no case shall an assistor assist more than three times
except the non-party members of the board of election
inspectors. The person thus chosen shall prepare the ballot for
the illiterate or disabled voter inside the voting booth. The
person assisting shall bind himself in a formal document
under oath to fill out the ballot strictly in accordance with the
instructions of the voter and not to reveal the contents of the
ballot prepared by him. Violation of this provision shall
constitute an election offense.
20
The spoiled ballot shall, without being unfolded and without
removing the detachable coupon, be distinctly marked with
the word "spoiled" and signed by the board of election
inspectors on the endorsement fold thereof and immediately
placed in the compartment for spoiled ballots.
The chairman, in the presence and view of the voter and all
the members of the board of election inspectors, without
unfolding the ballot or seeing its contents, shall verify its
number from the voting record where it was previously
entered.
21
The voter shall then depart.
After the election, the ballots shall be counted in public and without interruption until it
has been fully completed. The board of election inspectors shall unfold the ballots and pile it
in hundreds, which shall be held together by rubber bands. The chairman shall get each pile and
announce the name of the candidate in the order in which they appear. The poll clerk, and the
third member, shall record on the election returns and the tally board or sheet each vote as the
names voted for each office are read. Upon completion of the election returns, the chairman and
board of election inspectors shall publicly announce the winning candidates in their respective
polling precincts. The authorised representative of the Commission shall then deliver the ballot
boxes, keys, and all supplies and documents without delay to the city or municipal treasurer.
22
fully completed, unless otherwise ordered by the
Commission.
23
tally board or sheet and the election returns seeing to it that
the same are correctly accomplished. After finishing the first
pile of ballots, the board of election inspectors shall
determine the total number of votes recorded for each
candidate, the sum being noted on the tally board or sheet and
on the election returns. In case of discrepancy such recount as
may be necessary shall be made. The ballots shall then be
grouped together again as before the reading. Thereafter, the
same procedure shall be followed with the second pile of
ballots and so on successively. After all the ballots have been
read, the board of election inspectors shall sum up the totals
recorded for each candidate, and the aggregate sum shall be
recorded both on the tally board or sheet and on the election
returns. It shall then place the counted ballots in an envelope
provided for the purpose, which shall be closed signed and
deposited in the compartment for valid ballots. The tally
board or sheet as accomplished and certified by the board of
election inspectors shall not be changed or destroyed but shall
be kept in the compartment for valid ballots.
24
candidates with the same full name, first name or surname
and one of them is the incumbent, and on the ballot is written
only such full name, first name or surname, the vote shall be
counted in favor of the incumbent.
When two or more words are written on the same line on the
ballot, all of which are the surnames of two or more
candidates, the same shall not be counted for any of them,
unless one is a surname of an incumbent who has served for
at least one year in which case it shall be counted in favor of
the latter.
When two words are written on the ballot, one of which is the
first name of the candidate and the other is the surname of his
opponent, the vote shall not be counted for either.
25
A name or surname incorrectly written which, when read, has
a sound similar to the name or surname of a candidate when
correctly written shall be counted in his favor;
26
Ballots which contain prefixes such as "Sr.", "Mr.", "Datu",
"Don", "Ginoo", "Hon.", "Gob." or suffixes like "Hijo", "Jr.",
"Segundo", are valid.
27
If the candidates voted for exceed the number of those to be
elected, the ballot is valid, but the votes shall be counted only
in favor of the candidates whose names were firstly written
by the voter within the spaces provided for said office in the
ballot until the authorized number is covered.
28
Ballots wholly written in Arabic in localities where it is of
general use are valid. To read them, the board of election
inspectors may employ an interpreter who shall take an oath
that he shall read the votes correctly.
A vote for the President shall also be a vote for the Vice-
President running under the same ticket of a political party,
unless the voter votes for a Vice-President who does not
belong to such party.
The returns shall also show the date of the election, the
polling place, the barangay and the city of municipality in
which it was held, the total number of ballots found in the
compartment for valid ballots, the total number of valid
ballots withdrawn from the compartment for spoiled ballots
because they were erroneously placed therein, the total
29
number of excess ballots, the total number of marked or void
ballots, and the total number of votes obtained by each
candidate, writing out the said number in words and figures
and, at the end thereof, the board of election inspectors shall
certify that the contents are correct. The returns shall be
accomplished in a single sheet of paper, but if this is not
possible, additional sheets may be used which shall be
prepared in the same manner as the first sheet and likewise
certified by the board of election inspectors.
30
canvassers may summon the members of the board of
election inspectors concerned to complete the returns.
Sec. 213. Proclamation of the result of the election in the
polling place. - Upon the completion of the election returns,
the chairman of the board of election inspectors shall orally
and publicly announce the total number of votes received in
the election in the polling place by each and every one of the
candidates, stating their corresponding office.14
31
delivery at the expense of the city or municipality. The book
of voters shall be returned to the election registrar who shall
keep it under his custody. The treasurer and the election
registrar, as the case may be, shall on the day after the
election require the members of the board of election
inspectors who failed to send the objects referred to herein to
deliver the same to him immediately and acknowledge receipt
thereof in detail.15
Figure I
As mentioned earlier, the manual election system has posed numerous opportunities for
the possibility of electoral fraud. Ballot boxes have been switched, some have gone missing,
others are tampered with. These problems are not new. Since 1992, the government has been
trying to adopt the automated election system as a means of modernising the country’s electoral
process. Operation Modex (which stands for Modernisation and Excellence), was a six-year
modernisation program born out of a strategic planning seminar participated by key officials of
the COMELEC. The services of an international consultant, in collaboration with the Philippine
Computer Society, were contracted to scan alternative technology to modernise the electoral
process in the Philippines. The result of this study served as the affirmation of the direction
32
COMELEC was to take in its six-year operation.16 The program primarily operated within its
eight key components, namely: (1) formulation of a flexible legal framework that would allow
the Comelec to operate on a broad constitutional base; (2) systematization of the present method
of registration; (3) modernization of the electoral process from voting to proclamation to reduce
human intervention; (4) continuing election education campaign to foster citizen involvement;
bank; (6) upgrading of facilities and equipment; (7) decentralization and reorganization of
Comelec for more efficiency in the delivery of services; and (8) development and motivation of
Comelec personnel to professionalize the agency and to bolster a culture of competence and
integrity.17 A law was eventually passed in 1997, authorising the COMELEC to implement an
automated system in the 1998 May elections. This was Republic Act 8436. However, due to the
lack of preparation, timing and funding, only several provinces were able to use the new
system.18 In 2007, Republic Act 9369, “An Act Amending Republic Act No. 8436, Entitled "An
Act Authorizing The Commission On Elections To Use An Automated Election System In The
May 11, 1998 National Or Local Elections And In Subsequent National And Local Electoral
Amending For The Purpose Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, As Amended, Republic Act No. 7166 And
Other Related Election Laws, Providing Funds Therefor And For Other Purposes” which
33
amended the first automation law, was enacted. It declared as state policy the “free, orderly,
honest, peaceful, credible and informed elections, plebiscites, referenda, recall and other similar
electoral exercises by improving on the election process and adopting systems, which shall
involve the use of an automated election system that will ensure the secrecy and sanctity of the
ballot and all election, consolidation and transmission documents in order that the process shall
be transparent and credible and that the results shall be fast, accurate and reflective of the
The Philippines enforced the first nationwide automated electoral system in the 2010
Presidential Elections. The enforcement was not perfect but according to a survey by the Social
Weather Station (SWS), 75% of the Philippines were satisfied with the results. The COMELEC
was able to offer an initial report two hours after the polls closed. The trust level of the
COMELEC increased by 20% and the number of blank, null, strayed votes was reduced by half
In automated elections, the first step is procuring the necessary equipment needed in
enforcing the automated electoral system. This includes renting, leasing, purchasing, in
accordance with law, the necessary supplies, equipment, software, and facilities needed. These
will then be tested and examined by the political parties and candidates or their representatives,
citizens' arm or their representatives. Once a technology has been selected for the automated
19 An Act Amending Republic Act No. 8436, Entitled "An Act Authorizing The Commission On Elections
To Use An Automated Election System In The May 11, 1998 National Or Local Elections And In
Subsequent National And Local Electoral Exercises, To Encourage Transparency, Credibility, Fairness
And Accuracy Of Elections, Amending For The Purpose Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, As Amended,
Republic Act No. 7166 And Other Related Election Laws, Providing Funds Therefor And For Other
Purposes, R.A. 9369 §1 (2007).
20C. Zavarce, Automating Elections and Electronic Voting: Rationale, Advantages and Challenges,
https://www.electoralnetwork.org/docs/electoral-affairs-2013/Smartmatic-automating-elections-and-
electronic-voting.pdf (last accessed March 27, 2015).
34
election system, the Commission shall make this available and open to interested groups who
would like to conduct their own review. The official ballot shall be selected, and voting may
proceed.
35
(d) System integrity which ensures physical stability and
functioning of the vote recording and counting process;
36
system shall be developed with the assistance of an advisory
council.21
21 An Act Amending Republic Act No. 8436, Entitled "An Act Authorizing The Commission On Elections
To Use An Automated Election System In The May 11, 1998 National Or Local Elections And In
Subsequent National And Local Electoral Exercises, To Encourage Transparency, Credibility, Fairness
And Accuracy Of Elections, Amending For The Purpose Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, As Amended,
Republic Act No. 7166 And Other Related Election Laws, Providing Funds Therefor And For Other
Purposes, R.A. 9369 §6 (2007).
37
"The equipment or device to be used in the voting and
counting on the day of the electoral exercise, before voting
starts. Test ballots and test forms shall be provided by the
Commission.
38
arranged alphabetically by surname and uniformly indicated
using the same type size. The maiden or married name shall
be listed in the official ballot, as preferred by the female
candidate. Under each proposition to be voted upon, the
choices should be uniformly indicated using the same font
and size.
"For this purpose, the Commission shall set the deadline for
the filing of certificate of candidacy/petition of registration/
manifestation to participate in the election. Any person who
files his certificate of candidacy within this period shall only
be considered as a candidate at the start of the campaign
period for which he filed his certificate of candidacy:
Provided, That, unlawful acts or omissions applicable to a
candidate shall take effect only upon the start of the aforesaid
campaign period: Provided, finally, That any person holding a
public appointive office or position, including active
members of the armed forces, and officers and employees in
government-owned or -controlled corporations, shall be
considered ipso facto resigned from his/her office and must
vacate the same at the start of the day of the filing of his/her
certificate of candidacy.
"Political parties may hold political conventions to nominate
their official candidates within thirty (30) days before the
start of the period for filing a certificate of candidacy.
39
National Printing Office/Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that it
cannot meet the printing requirements. Accredited political
parties and deputized citizen's arms of the Commission shall
assign watchers in the printing, storage and distribution of
official ballots.
PCOS Machines
Figure 2
22 An Act Amending Republic Act No. 8436, Entitled "An Act Authorizing The Commission On Elections
To Use An Automated Election System In The May 11, 1998 National Or Local Elections And In
Subsequent National And Local Electoral Exercises, To Encourage Transparency, Credibility, Fairness
And Accuracy Of Elections, Amending For The Purpose Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, As Amended,
Republic Act No. 7166 And Other Related Election Laws, Providing Funds Therefor And For Other
Purposes, R.A. 9369 §12, 14-15, 18 (2007).
40
PCOS Machine Ballot Feeding
Analysis
The manual and automated electoral systems have similar procedures, save for the
manner the voters cast their vote, and the way these votes are tallied. In the manual system,
votes are cast on paper ballots by writing the names of the candidates. In the automated system,
voters shade the circle beside the names of the candidates they are voting for. In the manual
system, once the polls have closed, the Board of Election Inspectors count the votes by counting
the ballots and the names in each ballot manually, and tallying them. In the automated system,
the poll clerk and third member enter their PIN in the PCOS machine and the PCOS
automatically counts the votes. We can see from the difference in procedure that the automated
system requires less human intervention, which may actually lessen the possibility of electoral
41
Recommendation
Because of the manner of voting and counting the votes, the automated electoral system
proves to be more efficient and more effective than the manual electoral system. There is less
human intervention in the automated system, which actually prevents the possibility of votes
being erased or changed. Once a voter has cast his vote, the ballots are fed to the PCOS machine
for evaluation and counting. There is no way for the actual number to be changed, unless a
highly skilled computer hacker or someone with the like skill actually tampers with the software.
In short, it will take more than just erasing the candidate’s name for a ballot to be tampered with.
Apart from the possible drop in electoral fraud incidents, the computerised tallying will
definitely provide quicker election results. The COMELEC was able to offer the public with an
initial report just two hours after the polls closed. Getting initial results in hours instead of days
will definitely be a big improvement and help in our country’s electoral system.
This kind of system will also definitely increase the public’s trust in the COMELEC and
the electorate. With more secure and secret ballots, increased accountability and transparency
due to the process, the public will more like learn to trust in the system again. Fears and doubts
regarding possible cheating and fraud during elections will be eliminated. The country can learn
42