By Leonardo Micua

THE report of Rappler that all 42,001 barangays in the country completed the vote counting process just two days after the Election Day shed light on the efficiency and success of manual voting in the just concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in the Philippines.

And this was all due to the sacrifices of indefatigable poll workers, all teachers of the Department of Education, who did not leave the polling places until their job was done.

No less than Comelec Chairman George Garcia has confirmed the flawless completion of voting and counting operations, reporting a 100 percent success rate. But what  is particularly significant is the absence of any protests or complaints regarding the accuracy of the election results.

It is likely that the success of manual voting in the BSKE has sparked a new discussion on whether it may be time for the country to shift back to manual elections instead of relying solely on automated systems.

The speedy completion of the election only added fuel to the ongoing debate regarding the potential advantages of reverting to manual elections, given the fact that a number of our citizens have already questioned the integrity of the service provider Smartmatic.

While automated election employs the use of vote counting machines, many argue that manual voting provides a sense of confidence and transparency in ensuring that every vote is accurately recorded.

In the age of automation, some individuals express concerns about the lack of visibility when it comes to the counting process. Unlike in manual elections, where every step is performed and witnessed by individuals, automated systems rely heavily on machines to carry out the task.

This creates a level of uncertainty, as citizens are unable to physically witness the counting of their votes. As a result, critics argue that a shift back to manual elections could instill a sense of trust and assurance among voters, as their participation would be directly involved in the counting process.

However, it is important to note that this suggestion is not without its own drawbacks. Advocates of automated elections argue that the current system allows for faster and more efficient results. Additionally, it significantly reduces human error, as machines are less prone to mistakes compared to manual counting methods.

The utilization of technology also ensures that the voting process is smoother and more accessible, especially for individuals with disabilities or those living in remote areas.

To me, the recent successful completion of the BSKE, without any major incidents recorded, may have already reignited the discussion surrounding the shift back to manual voting.

As citizens continue to voice their concerns and opinions, it is expected that further deliberation and analysis will be conducted to determine the most suitable electoral system for the country, one that strikes the balance between efficiency and transparency.

However, a third option could be the holding of hybrid election that was proposed by Senator Imee Marcos, the mechanics of which, is yet to be elaborated by the proponent.  Probably in hybrid election, this would be a mix of both systems in a single political exercise.

Need I tell you too that when I voted at the North Central Elementary School in Bonuan Gueset at about 10 a.m., never did I notice large queues of voters gathering in every polling precinct.

In automated elections, queues happen oftentimes, and at times when the VCMs are malfunctioning as the latter is prone to overheating when the temperature in the polling place becomes unusually high.

Recall that there was even a first of its kind signature campaign that questioned the result of the 2022 election in Pangasinan done through automated election, but which was however dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Nevertheless, the signatories in that petition were happy to prove their point that automated election cannot be trusted.#

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments