The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to use two automated election systems (AES) for the 2025 midterm elections. In a press conference at the poll body’s main office in Intramuros, Manila on Thursday, Comelec chairperson George Garcia disclosed that they want to work with the manufacturer of the machines, as they want to customize the systems to be used in the polls. ‘We put on the Terms of Reference (TOR), we want to deal with the manufacturer. We don’t want to be just an integrator. What we want is to customize, build the machine for the Comelec. We want to have our own software and we have the option to buy the software, even the hardware,’ he said. Garcia added that the AES they are looking to use are the Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) and Optical Mark Reader (OMR). ‘It is a combination of OMR and DRE. We have utilized the OMR, while the DRE is touchscreen. What we want (is) if manufacturers have such (a) combination,’ Garcia said. ‘The recommendation of the Comelec Advisory Council is also the same as what we want, OMR/DRE.’ The Comelec head noted that they plan to use the DRE for Overseas Voting and the OMR for the domestic polls. Asked if both AES would be used at the same time, Garcia said, ‘No, only one AES will be used. The other feature will be disabled. If the DRE is being used, the OMR will be dissolved and vice versa.’ As for the transmission package, Garcia said they would come up with a separate TOR. ‘There will be a separate TOR for transmission because the Comelec would like to make sure that it is in full control and that the telcos (telecommunications companies) that will win the procurement will report directly to us. All other collaterals, software, hardware, it’s with the winning bidder,’ he said. At the same time, Garcia noted that they could revise the TOR in case some of the features are not available in the market. ‘The Commission en banc voted unanimously on the TOR. In case we were informed that it is not available in the market, we can easily revise the TOR. But this early, we want the manufacturers to know what we need. We can procure by July this year so that we can award by January or February next year and then we will conduct end-to-end testing,’ he said. ‘Take note, this is lease with option to purchase. We don’t want to purchase yet since we would like to try the system first… Finally, (the) machine should be upgradeable so this can be used in future elections.’ Earlier, the poll body said they are no longer using the 97,000 vote counting machines that were used in the past three elections.

Source: Philippines News Agency