Comelec eyes 100% e-transmission of results

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the possibility of signal disruptions in far-flung areas, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is hoping for a 100 percent electronic transmission of results of the May midterm elections.

Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said the poll body intends to surpass the electronic transmission rates in the last three elections and achieve a 100 percent rate in the coming polls.

“Transmission rate in the 2016 elections was close to 97 percent. So we are targeting if we could exceed to 100 percent,” Casquejo disclosed yesterday.

He noted that the Comelec recorded a 91 percent electronic transmission rate in 2010 and the figure dropped to 76 percent in 2013.

According to Casquejo, the Comelec has adopted contingency measures to prevent the removal of Secured Digital (SD) card from the vote counting machines (VCMs) in case electronic transmission fails due to signal disruptions.

“One of the contingency procedures is in the event that the electoral board failed to transmit election results from the voting center… they will go to the nearest voting center with a strong signal so that we could send the results directly from the VCM to the CCS (Consolidation Canvassing System) and the transparency server,” he noted.

The transfer of SD card will be accompanied by elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) or the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as well as representatives of candidates.

He said removal of the SD card would be the last resort for the electoral board to avoid doubts on the credibility of election results.

Casquejo said the Comelec is also working with the police and military to prevent attempts to sabotage the signal.

Yesterday, the Comelec conducted the last of three components of the Trusted Build program of the Automated Election System to be used in the midterm elections. – With Sheila Crisostomo, Emmanuel Tupas, Roel Pareño