SUMMARY
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) inked memoranda of agreement (MOA) with two companies that will provide the technology for the poll body’s overseas internet voting test runs in July.
The tech providers are Voatz, a US-based for-profit, private mobile election voting application; and Indra Sistemas, an IT company that has served elections in Europe.
In a statement on Wednesday, June 23, the Comelec identified Smartmatic, the Philippines’ technology provider for automated elections since 2010, as the third company involved in the internet voting test runs, but it has yet to sign a MOA with the poll body due to a conflict of schedule.
The test runs are already in their third phase, which makes use of actual test voting activity, according to the Comelec.
“The first and second phases, which involved preparation and presentation, were completed in the last quarter of 2020 and first quarter of 2021, respectively,” the Comelec press release read.
“The fourth and last phase will be the evaluation phase, which pertains to the post-election assessment activity to document all stakeholders’ observations, user experience, feedback, comments, and such other matters,” it added.
Despite the scheduled test runs, however, the Comelec has said previously that internet voting won’t be used for the 2022 polls.
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, who is in charge of overseas voting, called the upcoming exploratory test use of a mobile app for overseas voters “groundbreaking.”
“The results will have a significant and valuable impact on how elections may be conducted in the future,” she said.
Registered voters who are interested to take part in the test runs have until Friday, June 25, to sign up online.
Republic Act No. 10590 or the Overseas Voting Act of 2013 allows Comelec to “explore other more efficient, reliable, and secure modes or systems, ensuring the secrecy and sanctity of the entire process, whether paper-based, electronic-based, or internet-based technology or such other latest technology available, for onsite and remote registration and elections.”
Based on Comelec’s data, there were 1.42 million registered overseas voters as of May 19. — Rappler.com
Add a comment
How does this make you feel?
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.