VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has started the automated counting machine (ACM) nationwide roadshow for the 2025 national and local elections (NLE) for the 39 barangays in Vigan City.
As of Sunday, December 15, 2024, the COMELEC-Vigan City has conducted ACM demonstrations and voter education at the City Local Government Operations Office and in seven barangays, including Barangays I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and VIII.
COMELEC-Vigan City election officer, Atty. Leonila R. Fortuna said, “The COMELEC is currently occupied with the demonstration of the new machine to all barangays, towns, and provinces wherein we discuss how to use it and how the votes are processed.”
Aside from barangays, she mentioned that they will also visit educational institutions to help educate and inform newly registered voters and the youth.
“We asked the residents to try how this new machine works, and they saw that the machine will read their votes properly. If they draw an x-mark or check, the vote will not be read, and if they overvote, their votes will be wasted because the machine will not count it entirely,” said Fortuna.
Rico Alviar, a member of the barangay council who participated in the roadshow, said that his experience with the ACM was very successful.
“There was no delay or malfunctions compared to my experience in the last elections, and I commend the COMELEC because they are visiting all barangays to educate everyone about the ACM,” he said.
The ACM is equipped with two classes of technology for the two methods of voting: optical mark reader (OMR) to be used in the Philippines for the traditional voting and the direct recording electronic (DRE) or voting with touchscreen to be used by overseas Filipino voters in selected countries.
It has a 14-hour battery life, which will work even if only a battery is attached to it, and there is no need for an electrical outlet or other cables for it to function and operate.
It also features a wider 14-inch adjustable touchscreen for voters to clearly see the actual image of the ballot and a privacy screen to ensure that only the voter sees their ballot.
COMELEC explained that the ballot feeding and scanning will be faster as there are auto-align features to prevent paper jams and an automatic receipt cutting feature with a built-in voter’s receipt compartment.
The ACM is also a more inclusive machine, as it features headphones for visually impaired voters and is further lowered for the accessibility of voters with physical disabilities and those in wheelchairs.
According to COMELEC Ilocos Sur, as of Saturday, they have conducted the ACM roadshow in 176 barangays in the province. (AMB/ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)
