No more legal impediments to Internet voting

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported yesterday that there are no more legal impediments to the pilot-testing of Internet voting in the coming May 14 senatorial elections.

"I believe that the issue (over the legality of Internet voting) has been settled because no less than the Office of Solicitor General has issued a legal opinion (in favor of the program) on the matter," Commissioner Florentino Tuason Jr. said.

Tuason noted Solicitor General Antonio Eduardo Nachura said the Comelec could engage in direct contracting for the procurement of internet voting technology for the purpose of overseas absentee voting (OAV).

Sen. Richard Gordon and other critics have questioned the legality of the internet voting, claiming that there is no law providing for it and the procurement of the machines without bidding.

Tuason, however, explained that there was no bidding because only one entity can provide the features which respond to the requirements of the Comelec for the pilot testing of Internet voting abroad.

He pointed out that only Scytl Secure Electronic Voting was able to provide security features that could ensure fraud-free elections.