Election body tests voting machines for Philippines’ Muslim-majority polls
Philippines’ Commission on Elections (Comelec) is conducting hardware testing on 6,500 voting machines ahead of elections
MANILA, Philippines (MNTV) — The Philippines’ Commission on Elections (Comelec) is conducting hardware testing on 6,500 voting machines ahead of the Sept. 14 parliamentary elections in the Muslim-majority Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), reports ABS-CBN.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said the voting machines are undergoing “hardware acceptance tests” to ensure defective units are immediately identified, rejected, and replaced.
Garcia said the agency is also planning simulation exercises and certification, including technical evaluation and logic and accuracy testing, before final approval of the system.
He also said the agency is proposing to increase the vote detection threshold of machines from 15% to 25% in order to eliminate concerns over ballot mark recognition.
Garcia said contingency systems are also being reinforced, including repair hubs in every province and at least 10 backup machines per municipality.
Of the 6,500 machines set for delivery, more than 1,000 will serve as reserve units to prevent disruptions in precincts.
On election violence concerns, Garcia said the agency is assessing how election-related violence is classified, noting recurring discrepancies with police reports.
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