By JEN BAYLON
The Commission on Elections in the Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) is taking meticulous steps to ensure the secure deployment of automated counting machines (ACMs) in the region as the country gears up for the May 12 midterm elections.
Comelec-NIR Regional Director Lionel Marco Castillano said the ACMs are expected to arrive in the region on April 17 and 18.
Upon arrival at the ports, the machines will be escorted by the police and coast guard to their designated storage facilities.
“There will be security from the moment it arrives at the port. It will be picked up by the police and coast guard and brought to the hub,” Castillano explained.
For Negros Occidental, the machines will be directly transported to capital Bacolod City, while those for Negros Oriental and Siquijor will be sent to Dumaguete City, Castillano said.
He emphasized that the ACMs will not be deployed directly to the offices of election officers in every local government unit, but will instead be stored in secure hubs or warehouses.
These hubs will have 24-hour security, ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.
“The ACMs cannot be opened except on the final testing and sealing day, which is not later than May 7,” he said.
Castillano said they plan to deploy the ballots and ACMs simultaneously to the cities and municipalities in NIR.
“Once deployed, the ballots will be checked by treasurers, together with Comelec,” he added.
By ensuring the secure handling and storage of critical election equipment, the commission aims to prevent any potential disruptions or irregularities during the upcoming elections.
The ACM, now with a larger 14-inch adjustable touchscreen and a battery life that can last up to 14 hours, has many good features, and it is easy to use, Comelec said.
It has features such as faster scanning speed, automatic receipt-cutting, a built-in receipt compartment, and accessibility options.
The vote-counting machines have the capability to transmit results immediately after the voting process.
The Comelec is also distributing flyers to the public so they can familiarize themselves with the automated voting process before next year’s polls./JB, WDJ