How Would You Have Changed Our First Automated Elections?

Posted on May 11th, 2010. Written by Rico.

Turns out technology and automation have led to perhaps our most orderly elections in a long time. But like anything else, there’s always room for improvement.

Getting the machines ready for the elections was a last-minute thing. Maybe for 2013 and 2016, more thorough testing is needed? The entire system should be working—and approved by the COMELEC and candidate representatives—at least six months beforehand. We really don’t need any more scares regarding the integrity of our elections, do we?

While it’s good that Smartmatic got it’s act together (somewhat) come May 10, machine failures still caused delays. It was my first time to vote yesterday, so I was perfectly fine with a three-and-a-half hour wait.

Turns out however, based on anecdotes from people who’ve previously voted, that’s simply too long. Local blogger Jane Chua for instance said her last time at the polling booth took only fifteen minutes total.

Ultimately, it’s a matter of ensuring the PCOS machines are working properly months—not days—before the actual elections. Once the COMELEC gets that right, we can expect even better and faster elections in the future. We also won’t see clever attempts at humor like the PCOSmachine Twitter account, but at least public money will be spent wisely. What about you, dear readers, how would you have changed our first automated elections? For the better, of course.