Comelec exec rejects DICT-proposed ballot layout for 2022

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday thumbed down the proposed ballot face of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for the 2022 polls. 

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said she does not like the layout of the sample ballot that goes with the “One Citizen. One Vote. One Count” automated election system (AES) showcased by the DICT during the voting technology fair last Monday. 

“@DICTgovph, why not just shade 12 ovals under senator? This looks like a lottery ticket. Something isn’t right,” Guanzon posted in her Twitter account. 

Guanzon said the layout was complicated and it would not be beneficial to voters.

“We need a simpler ballot. Make it easy for voters to vote,” she added.

Last Monday, the DICT conducted an AES Technology Fair in Quezon City to help showcase various voting technologies that can be used for the 2022 elections.

Aside from DICT, other exhibitors were BOSES, a homegrown election system; VOATZ, a mobile voting solutions provider; Smartmatic; Indra Sistemas; and AES/ETA, the hybrid process proposed by transparentelections.org.

Comelec Commissioner Luie Guia, however, said there must be a multi-sector dialogue as the search for a new technology begins.

In his Twitter account, Guia said there is a need to first determine the problems with the existing AES as viewed by various stakeholders before a newer technology is identified.

“It would be also good to have a series (of) multisectoral conversations to agree and clarify what outcomes do we really want our elections to deliver and examine the election technology options available that would likely bring those outcomes,” Guia said. 

“Technology and machines are just tools necessary to bring about pre-determined intended outcomes,” he added.

“Determination should be evidence- and experience-based and should consider context. Only then can a chosen technology be truly appropriate.”