Comelec opens PCOS demo center in Zamboanga City

Jemm de Leon

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Comelec has installed a Precinct Count Optical Scan machine demonstration center in Mindpro Citimall, Zamboanga City

VOTER EDUCATION. Comelec opens PCOS demonstration center in Zamboanga City Photo by Jemm De Leon

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – In time for May 13, the Commission on Elections has installed Precinct Count Optical Scan machine demonstration centers around the country.

One of these can be found in Mindpro Citimall, Zamboanga City. The center has been open to the public since April 8 and will continue to provide demonstrations to interested voters until May 6.

According to Cornelio Garcia, the Comelec technician who leads the demonstrations, the main aim of the centers is to keep the public well informed about the flow of the voting process. During the demonstrations, voters are given the chance to practice filling up ballots and inserting them into the PCOS machine.

Garcia said that he and his colleagues put emphasis on the proper way to mark ballots. Apart from the demonstration itself, the Comelec staff also make use of a visual presentation to aid in educating the public about the voting process.

DEMONSTRATIONS. The main aim of the center is to keep the public well-informed on the flow of the voting process. Photo by Jemm De Leon

When it came to the public’s reception, Garcia pointed out that many voters have visited the center to ask questions regarding the elections. Garcia observed that most first-time voters seemed hesitant when asked to participate in the demos. He also said it is evident that some voters are still used to the manual methods and would need to learn automated voting.

Garcia urges voters to be mindful of their ballots come Election Day. He said it’s important to vote the right away. According to him, “Bawa’t patak ng marking pen sa balota nila ay mahalaga sa atin o para sa bayan natin.” (Every drop of ink on their ballots is important to us or to the nation.)

The Commission on Elections has launched 23 Precinct Count Optical Scan machine demonstration centers nationwide. – Rappler.com


Jemm De Leon is a Rappler mover from Zamboanga City. You can be one, too. Send us an e-mail at move.ph@rappler.com to volunteer.

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!