With 19 days left before election day, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has started demonstrating how to use the vote-counting machine (VCM) in malls to inform and educate the public about the voting process.
The Comelec partnered with the SM Supermalls to educate voters and allow them to test the VCMs before the May 9 polls.
Comelec chairman Saidamen Pangarungan said the voting demonstration is part of Comelec’s drive to familiarize the public on how to use the VCM.
The VCM demo and experience will be staged in SM’s 78 malls nationwide.
“Through this vote-counting machine demo and experience, we hope to familiarize each voter with the tool that we will use to record and transmit their votes,” Pangarungan said during the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the poll body and SM Supermalls.
He said the project aims to dispel the apprehension and fear of some voters regarding the use and security of the vote-counting machines.
“These are state-of-the-art equipment that has been used by other countries. They are engineered to be secure and tamper-proof. The programming and codes for the machines are also safe and secure,” he added.
The Comelec official urged voters to take advantage of this exhibit so that they will be confident that votes are secured on election day.
Part of the demonstration is to show how votes cannot be maneuvered or even tracked.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said 800 mock ballots with fictitious names will be allotted per day in each of the participating mall branches.
“Our standard practice for VCM demos is that after the demos have been completed, they are then recovered, retrieved, and made ready for use in the elections as contingency machines,” he said.
Jimenez also said the demo in malls will not only be limited to registered voters, but to everyone who wishes to participate in the mock polls
The VCMs for the mall demo would be set aside days before election day, May 9, and would serve as standby units.
Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo added that hands-on experience with the VCMs will also help “eliminate any doubt” especially among first-time voters.