automated elections – Page 3 – marichulambino.com

TOTAL RECALL

Breaking news: Election counting machines cannot count at this time. All flash cards of all PCOS machines in Metro Manila are being recalled today by Comelec. (ABS-CBN News Channel) [Update: blog admin’s note: As of 6:55 pm today, Comelec said that they will recall and replace all 76,000 memory cards of all precincts nationwide (Saksi GMA Channel 7.)]

PCOS refers to the precinct count optical scan; this is the automated counting machine that records the vote from the paper ballots. Flash cards are the memory cards of the PCOS machine. The memory card stores all the data on the votes from the paper ballots. For these particular PCOS machines, the memory cards are the size of less than half of a slim cellphone, or smaller than the palm of your hand.

The memory cards of the PCOS machines therefore are like the ballot boxes or the election returns; except that the data stored in them, before (if any) or after, are invisible, because there is no LCD monitor of it. (The display function was disabled by Comelec because it caused a few seconds of delay per vote, and Comelec opted for speed instead of the vote tally being visible to everyone; there were also misgivings about “trending” while the voting was going on, or being able to monitor who was leading, which might therefore influence those who haven’t voted; so — the function was disabled). The data are invisible until they are transmitted to Comelec and/ or printed out.

Six days before election day, the Comelec and the contractor, Smartmatic found out that the configuration of the memory cards are not compatible with the PCOS machines. The PCOS machines are not able to count the votes for certain candidates because it is not able to “read” certain letters.

what this means is….

It was found out that the counting machines could not count, at this time.

The parties concerned should monitor how the memory cards are replaced/ re-configured. The rest of us should….pray.

[i’m being calm. ANONG MASASABI MO?! ANIM NA ARAW BAGO MAG- ELEKSYON, AUTOMATED COUNTING MACHINES MO, HINDI MAKAPAGBILANG!! (what can you say — Six days before elections, your automated counting machine cannot count!!)]

The first completely paperless, fully automated elections in the Philippines started in U.P. a couple of years ago , and has been successfully used in the University-wide student council elections for two years. No ballots, no election returns, no certificates of canvass, and only a certified official voters’ list to ensure all those who vote are qualified and to prevent “flying voting” – an iron-clad safeguard. The counting is real-time.

This morning, (Feb. 24), the Department of Journalism will use the same technology in a completely paperless, fully automated mock presidential elections from 8am to 7pm at the lobby outside the CMC auditorium at 8am to 7pm. The mock polls will be based on the official student voters’ list of U.P. CMC.

The software of the mock presidential polls was designed for the Department of Journalism yesterday afternoon by Computer Engineering student Rystrum Gamonez, president of the University

of the Philippines Linux Users Group or UNPLUGGED a university-wide student organization composed mainly of techies, more popularly referred to as “geeks”. He finished designing it in one hour, and installed it in an hour as he based it on an original design earlier used for student council elections in U.P.

After the mock presidential polls, the results will be signed and certified by three faculty members and two staffmembers. Winners and scores will be proclaimed during the CMC week in a media conference on March 2 at 10am at the CMC auditorium. After the proclamation of winners, and a brief discusson on voters’ preference, the Media Watch committe of CMC will read a statement on “Demands on, and expectations of the next President”. Then, a CMC Student Council representative will read an “Open Letter to the Next President” on the illegal arrest and detention of former CMC Student Councll Chair Jacquelyn Gonzales who was among those of the Morong 43.

The original design of the software was made earlier by UNPLUGGED members headed by Waldemar Bautista. Elections in U.P. have been completely paperless, except for several sheets of the voters’ list (or an official list of students eligible to vote). The official student voters’ list will also be used in the mock polls to preserve the integrity of the exercise.

See you this morning! [this is your invite to observe today’s mock polls (or to participate in, if you are a student) and to join us on Tuesday March 2 at the media conference.]