Comelec borrowing counting machines from Canada

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairwoman Harriet Demetriou has requested the city government of Toronto, Canada to lend the poll body some 1,800 counting machines to be used for the May 14, 2001 elections.

This was revealed in a letter sent by Demetriou to National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) chairman Jose Concepcion Jr., whom she thanked for providing information on the counting machines from Toronto.

The Comelec chief, however, said she has yet to receive a reply from the Toronto mayor in connection with the request.

"As of this writing, we have not received any information from Mayor Mel Lastman whether the City of Toronto as owner thereof is willing to loan us the machines," Demetriou stated in her letter.

All she has received was an e-mail informing her that the Comelec’s letter-query has been forwarded to officials of Canada’s Election Services for appropriate action.

Three days ago, Concepcion had written the Comelec chief to inform her that he had established contact with the supplier of the counting machines which Toronto uses to accurately count ballots for its elections.

The 1,800 counting machines being eyed by the Comelec had been subjected to rigorous testing by the Department of Science and Technology early December. They are equipped with voltage setting selectors and back-up battery packs.

Concepcion said he has been informed by supplier ES&S that programming of the system could be prepared in two to three weeks.

He pointed out that the machines are already available and ready for shipping.

Demetriou said it would be better to simply borrow the machines instead of buying new ones, considering the high cost of the units, which would only be outmoded in a few years’ time.

Meanwhile, a party-list representative warned that some 4.8 million voters from the 18-21 age bracket are in danger of being disenfranchised in the May polls because the government had failed to inform them of the Dec. 27 registration deadline for first-time voters.

Rep. Loretta Ann Rosales (Akbayan) said the situation is made worse by Comelec budget problems and the exit of three commissioners, including Demetriou. – With Romel Bagares