ROADMAP,PREPARATIONS,OUTLOOK AND CHALLENGES FOR AUTOMATED ELECTIONSBY: Comm. Rene V. Sarmiento

COMELEC and the 2010 Elections:COMELEC focused on 2010 elections. Preparations for the elections (registration, cleansing of voters list, automation, Comelec-GO NGO cooperation) ongoing COMELEC not distracted by talks about Charter Change via Con-Ass

OUTLOOKCOMELEC is hopeful that the automation project using Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) will push through as planned

Ten providers bought bid documents; only 7 submitted bid proposals; only one passed all tests (eligibility, technical and financial)

C. Bidding process transparent, open to the public

SBAC Recommended Smartmatic/Total Information Management and Commission En banc approved it on June 9, 2009Notice of AwardPosting of Performance SecurityNotice to Proceed; Contract preparation and signing

Legal basis in Section 5, R.A. No. 9369Pilot testing during the 2008 Regional ARMM electionsRecommendation by Advisory CouncilIn USA, paper band optical scan system is the most prevalent voting technologyVoting flowPrecinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS)

AUTOMATED SYSTEM OF CANVASSING AND TRANSMISSION VIA CELLULAR OR SATELLITE TECHNOLOGYNATIONAL BOARD OF CANVASSERSPROVINCIAL BOARD OF CANVASSERSMUNICIPAL/CITY BOARD OF CANVASSERSPrecinctCOMELECCONGRESSServer for Dominant Majority/Minority Parties, Citizens Arm, KBPAdvance ResultsComelec Central Back-up ServerAdvance Results/MonitoringSecured Public WebsiteMun./City COC SOVPProv. COC SOVM/CELECTION RETURNS30 Regions in all

Paraan ng Pagboto1Magpakilala sa Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) sa presinto kung saan kayo nakarehistro. Matapos mapatunayan ang inyong pagkakilanlan, bibigyan kayo ng balota na may mga pangalan na ng mga kandidato.

2Gamit ang marker, itiman o i-shade ng buo ang bilog na nasa tabi ng pangalan ng inyong mga napiling kandidato.

Paraan ng Pagboto3Pagka tapos bumoto i-feed ang nasagutang balota sa Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) Machine. Ang balota ay didiretso sa transparent ballot box.

I. Transparency and Confidence Building Measures Source Code Review Sec. 11, Sec. 14 of RA 9369

2. Field testing, followed by mock electionsSec. 11 of RA 9369 in one or more cities/municipalities Field Test Nov 28 Field Test 2, if necessary Dec 05 Mock elections Dec 13 2 NCR 2 Luzon 2 Visayas 2 Mindanao

Sec. 11 of RA 9369 Technical Evaluation Committee shall certify not later than three months before the date of the electoral exercise that the AES, including its hardware and software components, is operating properly, securely and accurately based on field testing and mock elections.3. TEC Certification

Sec. 14, RA 9369 At least 3 days before election day

CountingTransmissionConsolidation4. Testing and sealing of AES

5. Information Campaign Print, broadcast (radio and TV) and presentation in audio-visual, Internet and other media forms Road show in every region Training Public website

Voting, counting and canvassing proceduresContingency measuresProtest mechanism7. Examination and testing the PCOS before voting starts through test ballots and test forms Early release of General Instructions

Random Manual AuditSec. 29 of RA 9369 Random Manual Audit in one precinct per congressional district randomly chosen by the Commission in each province and city8. Watchers9. Continuity Plan/Contingency measures

Continuing Registration under R.A. No. 8189Covers first time Voters Ages 18 and aboveRegistration Lasts until October 31, 2009 Satellite Registration Centers Biometrics of voters being capturedValidation, transfer of registration, activation1,049,843 registrants as of June 3, 2009

R E G I S T R A T I O NWHEN: During office hours, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, (Mondays Saturdays including holidays)beginning December 2, 2008(Tuesday) to October 31, 2009(Saturday) WHERE: at the office of the local COMELECoffice where you reside HOW: personallyCOVERAGE: all cities and municipalities, except the ARMM

Cleansing of Voters ListCoordination with office of Local Civil RegistrarRegistration of voters who failed to vote twice.

Biometrics of Voters Being CapturedWhen a person comes in to apply for registration, his/her biometrics will be captured digitally, that is, digital images of his/her photograph, fingerprints and signature will be taken/captured using COMELEC's Data Capture Machine (DCM).

When this screen appears on the Data Capture System (DCS), biometrics capture is complete.

Implementation of Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS)

COMELEC, NGO and Civil Society CooperationAccreditation of PPCRV as Citizens Arm in RegistrationMOA Between PPCRV, NAMFREL, CEAP and COCOPEAMOA Between COMELEC, University of Cebu and other Cebu Universities.YVote Philippines and Youth CaravanCOMELEC and Task Force 2010.

Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and COMELEC collaboration.National Youth Commission and COMELEC team-upBoto mo, Ipatrol mo!PPCRV and PCS MOACOMELEC, Xavier University, PIA, NYC MOA

Task Force 2010 posters

YouthVote Caravan

I. Challenges Facing COMELEC

Critics of PCOS Automated Election System3MsMisappreciation of ballotsMisreading of ballotsMisbehavior of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI)

Critics of Poll Automation in GeneralCha-cha and No-El scenarioVote-buying

Government/LGUs, as Invaluable Partners of Comelec.RegistrationEducationInformationNetwork/Tie-upVoting

Conclusion

Gloom and Doom vs. Light and HopeSuccess of elections and strength of democracy rest on three pillars: good governance, enlightened electorate and vigilant civil societyOra et labora

GOD BLESS!