Configuring 76,000 PCOS flash cards

What happened during Monday’s mock polls was indeed forbidden. After long discussion for the automation of our election between law makers, COMELEC and Smartmatic-TIM I guess there are still important agenda overlooked by these bodies. In just days to go before the 2010 Elections it is only now that they will admit an error in configuring the PCOS machines’ flash cards. Will it meet the deadline in configuring the said flash cards? Only them will know. But whatever happen in the election, COMELEC and Smartmatic-TIM must be charged with different election cases because they seem not to ensure a smooth and clean automated election.

Smartmatic admits error in configuring PCOS flash cards

Comelec recalls 76,000 compact flash cards nationwide

2008 ARMM Election: Optical Media Reader (OMR)

Another machine to be used in the August 11 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is the Optical Media Reader (OMR) operated by Avante International Technology. In particular this machine will be used in five other provinces of ARMM - Lanao Del Sur, Shariff Kabunsuan, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Step 1:

After going through the standard verification of a voter’s identity, the voter is given a ballot, with pre-printed names of the candidates.

Step 2:

Using a pencil, completely shade the ovals in the ballot corresponding to your choice of candidates.

Step 3:

Fold the completed ballot up to the perforation mark. Make sure that the space provided for the thumbprint is exposed.

Step 4:

Go back to the BEI and affix your right thumbmark on the ballot.

Step 5:

Return the ballot bearing your thumbmark to the BEI. The BEI Chairman tears off the upper portion of the ballot and returns what is left of it to you, for you to drop inside the ballot box.

2008 ARMM Election: Direct Recording Electronic (DRE)

The machines to be used on August 11 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) election were already been dispatched and distributed. The Smartmatic-Sahi Technology is the company assigned to take charge of automated voting in Maguindanao province and canvassing in the entire ARMM. Two types of machines will be used in the ARMM elections. The Smartmatic-Sahi’s direct recording equipment (DRE), which will be used in Maguindano, with voting procedures as follows:

STEP 1:

Select the candidates of your choice for various positions by pressing the appropriate pictures on the voting pad. Verify your choice on the screen. To change a candidate, press the picture on the screen and select again on the voting pad.

STEP 2:

Press your corresponding gender and age in the lower part of the voting pad marked as “Kasarian at Edad ng Botante”

STEP 3:

After verification of your votes on the screen, press the button tagged as "BOTO".

STEP 4:

A confirmation statement will appear on the screen : "Sigurado na ba kayo sa inyong boto"?. If your answer is yes, press the button "OO". If the voter wants to change the vote again, press "HINDI" and the screen will go back to step 1.

STEP 5:

Wait for the printed vote to come out of the machine. Verify the names in the printed vote if they are consistent with the actual candidates chosen. Fold it once and drop it in the ballot box.