MANILA, Aug. 7 (PNA) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to have 600 to 800 voters per machine ratio in the May 2016 national and local polls.
According to Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista, the ratio would be lower compared to the 1,000 voters per Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines in the 2013 and 2010 polls.
There are approximately 54 million voters in 2016.
Bautista noted that the augmentation of the available machines will come from the refurbished 81,896 PCOS machines or the leased brand-new 70,977 Optical Mark Readers (OMRs).
“The Comelec will be making the choice between these two options in the coming weeks. It will be in the nation’s best interest if the decision-making process is as well-informed as it can possibly be,” he said in a statement.
On Thursday, Bautista, together with other poll body officials, presented the two options being considered for the automation of next year’s elections before the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Election System (JCOC-AES) at the Philippine Senate.
“The issues being considered by the Comelec at the moment are cost, timeliness and technical risk. The difference between cost of refurbishment and lease of new machines is around PhP 2.5 billion,” he explained.
The presentation is part of the ongoing efforts of the poll body to consult as many stakeholders as possible regarding the AES. (PNA)