Demo of Automated Counting System Comelec

1
Demo of Automated Counting System _at_ Comelec

• Today, 28 May, Thu
• SMAR invited by Comelec to witness demo, which is
  part of the bidding process
• SMAR reps were Atty Art Alicer and Telibert
• Photo Smartmatic/ TIM presenter with precinct
  machine

2
Precinct-based counting machine

• Voter feeds ballot into scanning machine
• Accepts ballot regardless of orientation when
  it's fed into machine
• Can detect reject photocopied ballots or those
  from other precincts
• Folded, crumpled torn ballots rejected

3
Scanner ballot box

• Scanner sits atop ballot box
• Box has compartment for valid and invalid ballots
• Machine detects drops ballot in appropriate box
  
• 3.5 thermal tape printer integrated
• 12-hour battery life required by Comelec

4
Ballot (national posts page, left-hand side)
5
To vote, shade the red-lined oval
Our observation Red-line maybe too narrow for
voters to see the oval automation gains could be
offset if voters commit widespread mistakes in
shading
6
Machine reports

• Machine prints election returns (ER)
• Up to 30 copies of ERs to be printed (required by
  Comelec)
• Zero report, audit trail transmission reports
  also printed

7
Data transmission from machine to municipal and
national

• Machine uses GPRS (cellphone system) to transmit
  results at close of voting
• Satellite transmission in areas w/o cellphone
  coverage

8
Consolidated machine results

• Results transmitted via cellphone network are
  received at various points
• Results are consolidated, tabulated and printed
  out
• Municipal canvass rooms could be laid out similar
  to that in photo

9
Next steps and observations

• 1. If petition of ESS bidder is accepted, their
  bid will be opened. If bid is lower than that of
  Smartmatic, ESS goes through demo.
• 2. In case of No. 1, delay in bid award could
  push schedule to three to six weeks more.

Machine-generated transmission report
Observations 1) Voter error could cause the
automated system to perform less than
expected 2) Comelec needs to conduct
comprehensive survey to minimize ballot-filling
up errors and use the survey results to inform
Comelec's voter education strategy.