By Jen Baylon
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Bacolod City said familiarization with the new automated counting machine (ACM) will ensure a smooth electoral process in the 2025 midterm elections.
“We want our voters to experience how to vote using the new machine before election day,” Comelec-Bacolod officer Revo Sorbito said during the launch of the simultaneous ACM roadshow and voter education at a mall in Bacolod City yesterday.
“Many first-time voters may be surprised by how the machine operates, and we want to eliminate any confusion that could lead to delays or errors,” he added.
Sorbito said the hands-on experience is crucial for building confidence among voters, particularly those who may be unfamiliar with automated voting systems.
He said the ACM, now with a larger 14-inch adjustable touchscreen and battery life that can last up to 14 hours, has many good features, and it is easy to use.
It has features such as faster scanning speed, automatic receipt-cutting, built-in receipt compartment, and accessibility options.
The vote-counting machines have the capability to transmit results immediately after the voting process.
Comelec officials also highlighted a new ACM feature, the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPat), which allows voters to check the candidates they voted for after the process.
“The VVPAT acts like a receipt that confirms your vote. Voters can check if their selection matches what was registered by the machine, providing an added layer of security and transparency,” Sorbito said.
Earlier, the Comelec said the roadshow will educate voters about ACM, a key innovation designed to streamline the voting process, that will be employed during the midterm elections.
Throughout the roadshow, participants will have the opportunity to engage in interactive demonstrations that illustrate how to properly use the ACM.
The ACMs have already been delivered to all 32 local government units in Negros Occidental, including capital Bacolod City over the weekend.
Each municipal or city election office received an ACM unit for the roadshow.
The Comelec said the caravan aims to reach as many voters as possible in the barangays, schools and other places of convergence in all the towns and cities, to teach them the new features of the ACMs.
The roadshow will run until January 30, 2025.
According to Comelec, there are 2,009,564 registered voters in Negros Occidental, which includes 356,814 registered voters in Bacolod./ With reports from PNA / JB, WDJ
Caption
Personnel from the Commission on Elections in Bacolod City demonstrated the use of the automated counting machine (ACM) for the May 2025 midterm elections during a roadshow at a mall in Bacolod City yesterday, December 2, 2024. The roadshow aims to educate voters about ACM, a key innovation designed to streamline the voting process. (Brigada News FM 103.1 Bacolod photo)