Source code open to review — Comelec

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has given assurance that enough time will be given to those who want to review the source code of the automated election system (AES) for the May 2019 polls.

According to Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, the poll body hopes to give adequate time to the parties interested in scrutinizing the source code or the alphanumeric instruction that dictates how the AES should operate.

“We want the review itself to be open as long as possible. We want the parties to achieve the opportunity to check the code and be comfortable with it,” he said at yesterday’s press briefing.?He clarified, however, that the review process should not exceed nine weeks so as not to disrupt the election calendar, which the Comelec is following.

“Let us keep in mind that our outlook on the schedule is that we will have a final trusted build somewhere in the middle of December. So that is likely our natural limit,” Jimenez added.?Under the law, interested parties would be allowed to review the source code, which covers the election management system, vote counting machine and consolidated canvassing system, among others.

Those who wish to take part in the review will have to apply for accreditation with the Comelec. However, this period ended last Friday.

Comelec is planning to start the review on Oct. 8 tentatively at De La Salle University in Manila, which hosted the reviews for the 2013 and 2016 polls.