FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Republic Act No. 9369
Automated Elections System


1. What is the coverage of the automation?

· In 2007, the law provides for full automation in 2 provinces and 2 highly urbanized cities each in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao chosen by the Comelec, with the consent of their respective Sanggunians. LGUs whose officials have been the subject of administrative charges within 16 months prior to the May 14, 2007 elections shall not be chosen. An APPROPRIATION of 2.6 Billion is provided for 2007. In 2010, RA 9369 provides for a nationwide automated election system.



2. What are the features of the automated system?

· There is a VVPAT (voter-verified paper audit trail) – so that voters can see that their votes as cast are recorded accurately.



· The AES must be secured against unauthorized access and there must be accuracy in recording and reading the votes, tabulating, consolidating/canvassing, electronically transmitting and storing the results . It must also be accessible to illiterates and disabled voters. It is also flexible. Different automated systems can be used in different provinces, depending on applicability (not limited to one technology).



· The Comelec must prepare a Continuity Plan in case of a systems breakdown, and this plan is certified by the Technical Evaluation Committee.



3. What technology may be used in the automated system?

· It is technology-neutral. Does not preclude current or future technology. We can use whatever is out there, and whatever is appropriate, secure, applicable and cost-effective.



· The chosen system must have demonstrated capability. For 2010, it must have been successfully used in a prior electoral exercise here or abroad. Participation in the 2007 pilot exercises shall not be conclusive of the system's fitness.



4. How will the election results be transmitted?

· Results per precinct will be simultaneously transmitted electronically within 1 hour after printing the election returns and shall be transmitted to the different Board of Canvassers, to the accredited citizen's arm, dominant majority and minority party, and to the media through the KBP. This means No more dagdag-bawas and wholesale cheating .



5. How will automation ensure the accuracy of the vote?

· Voters can verify their votes because the law requires a Voter-verified paper audit trail. So before the vote is cast, the voter checks that his choices were properly recorded.



· automatic random manual audit - in 1 precinct per congressional district randomly chosen by the Comelec in each province and city. Any difference between the automated and manual count will result in the determination of root cause and initiate a manual count for those precincts affected by the computer or procedural error.



6. What will be considered as official election results in the automated election system?

· The election returns and certificates of canvass transmitted electronically and digitally signed and authenticated shall be considered as official election results and shall be used as basis for the proclamation of a candidate.



7. How will the machines for the automation be procured?

· Ideally, the COMELEC should procure the machines by conducting a public bidding. The General Procurement Act ( R.A.9184) states that it "shall not exceed three (3) months, or a shorter period to be determined by the procuring entity concerned." Alternatively, the machines may be acquired by Negotiated Procurement, where the COMELEC directly purchases commonly-used goods from another government agency such as the Procurement Service of the DBM.