ILOILO CITY: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) gathered on Monday representatives from four villages in Iloilo City for the kickoff of the automated counting machine (ACM) roadshow and demonstration activity held simultaneously nationwide in preparation for the 2025 midterm elections. The roadshow aims to familiarize voters with the ACM technology.
According to Philippines News Agency, Regional Election Director lawyer Dennis Ausan explained during the event at Iloilo City National High School in Molo District that this roadshow responds to the public’s growing interest and questions about the automation of the electoral process. Ausan noted that automated elections have been conducted since 2010, with the next scheduled for May 12, 2025. This marks the first-ever nationwide simultaneous kickoff of the roadshow presentation of the machines to be used, which will continue for the next two months. By January 31, 2025, the machines will be returned to their warehouse in Laguna for reconfiguration.
A total
of 101 ACMs are deployed across Western Visayas’ local government units in Panay and Guimaras, including one for the regional office of Comelec. Although the machine’s basic functionality remains the same, with voters shading their choices and feeding the ballots into the machine, enhancements have been made. The Optical Mark Reader is one of two ACM technologies to be used during the 2025 elections. The ACM includes a 14-inch adjustable touchscreen, privacy screen, faster scanning speed, automatic receipt-cutting feature, built-in receipt compartment, accessibility options, and the capability to transmit results immediately after voting.
Iloilo City Election Officer IV Pinky Tentativa stated that a voter would receive a single ballot, and the machine could accurately read ballots even if the shading is only 15 percent complete. Attendees were given the opportunity to test the machine themselves following the briefing.
Election observer Ruben Gamala, coordinator of the National Citizens Movement for Free El
ections (NAMFREL), praised the process as simple and fast, expressing satisfaction with the efforts of Comelec officials in the region and Iloilo to keep the public well-informed about the new voting process features. Susanne Mates, a councilor from Barangay Poblacion Molo, found the machine easy to use, noting it was more comfortable than in previous elections.
Ausan also revealed that Comelec is introducing new policies for the upcoming elections, including early voting from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and mall voting for vulnerable sectors, as part of efforts to make the process more accessible.
