Automated poll system

There was not a single time that election in this country was considered honest, free and clean. It is always tainted with suspicion that there are various frauds committed. After counting of votes, no political candidates could accept defeat.

Winners are always alluded to as having manipulated the election results through massive vote-buying, vote shaving (dagdag-bawas) and the deliberate manipulation of the certificates of canvass. Teachers who are always used as poll watchers and election officials usually take the blame and in some cases even lost their lives in the exercise of their duties.

Because of these situations, there is a strong clamor to change the counting of votes from manual to automation or computerized system. The government under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has certified the automated poll system as urgent and directed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to immediately implement this in 2010 elections. The cost of computers and the automated system is P11 billion and was already approved by the Congress through a supplemental budget.