DUMAGUETE CITY: Government workers of this capital city and the provincial government of Negros Oriental were the first to try out the automated counting machines (ACM) during the start of the Commission on Elections or Comelec’s roadshow and demonstration on Monday. Lawyer Ian Macaraya, Dumaguete City election officer, highlighted the significance of this event as it marks the initial phase of familiarizing local officials with the technology to be used in the upcoming 2025 elections.

According to Philippines News Agency, the demonstration and lecture on the ACM were conducted following the morning flag-raising rites at the city hall. A group of 25 city government workers was randomly selected to participate in the exercise, giving them a firsthand experience of casting their ballots using the new system. Macaraya explained that there is a limited budget for ballots, with 25 allocated for each barangay and venue where the roadshow will take place, which restricts the number of participants.

The initiative
also included lectures on the ACMs’ features, aiming to educate the attendees on the new voting process. To further this outreach, Comelec is distributing flyers to the public, ensuring that more people can familiarize themselves with the automated voting process ahead of the elections.

On the following day, Tuesday, the Comelec is scheduled to present the same demonstration at the regular city council session, continuing their efforts to engage with local government units and officials. Additionally, a separate demonstration and lecture were held at the Macias Sports Center for provincial government officials and employees, offering them a similar opportunity to interact with the machines.

Negros Oriental has been provided with 25 ACMs, ensuring that each local government unit receives one, along with an additional contingency machine to address any potential issues during the election process.