CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Voters in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will have more ways to confirm their votes during the first Parliamentary Elections on September 14 through the use of new vote-counting machines.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson Lawyer John Rex Laudiangco said the new machines will allow voters to view their ballots after processing, in addition to receiving a printed receipt as proof of their votes.Unlike previous election systems, the new machines provide voters with an added verification step before they leave the polling area.
Voters can check if the machine correctly read the choices they marked on their ballots.The printed receipt will also serve as another way for voters to compare and confirm that their votes were properly recorded.
Laudiangco said the system aims to increase voter confidence and transparency during the historic BARMM Parliamentary Elections.The new machines will also allow authorized observers and poll watchers to witness a precinct-level audit after vote counting and transmission of results. The machines will display the ballots they processed, allowing documentation through photos or videos without revealing voter identities.
Comelec is also conducting voter education activities to help residents understand the new voting process and become familiar with the updated machines.
