Comelec trained on auto machines

MANILA, Philippines – A total of 50 personnel of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) have been trained on the operation of the automated counting and voting machines that will be used in the Aug. 11 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said all 50 have been familiarized on the direct recording electronics (DRE) and optical mark readers (OMR) so they could eventually teach those who would supervise the ARMM polls.

Under the plan, the 50 trained personnel will be deployed to various ARMM provinces to train the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) and Board of Canvassers (BOCs) there.

The DRE machines will be supplied by Smartmatic-Sahi Technology while the OMR will be provided by Avante International Technology.  The two companies led the training program of the 50 Comelec personnel.

“We received the full commitment of the two service providers to ensure that all field personnel from Comelec and the Department of Education, including the BOIs and BOCs, are prepared for the automated elections on August 11,” Jimenez said.

In DRE technology, votes will be cast by touching the names and photographs of their candidates uploaded in the machines. In OMR, the names of the candidates will have their corresponding ovals that voters must shade. 

After the ARMM polls, the Comelec will determine which between DRE and OMR will be used in the 2010 presidential elections.  – Sheila Crisostomo