Peaceful and Orderly Election Day Amid Challenges
The recent May 12 elections were described as peaceful and orderly by an established elections watchdog. Despite this overall calm, the group reported several troubling incidents, including cases of electoral violence and malfunctions of automated counting machines (ACMs), which disrupted the voting process in some areas.
According to the watchdog’s analytics dashboard, volunteers verified a total of nine election-related incidents across the country. Notably, violent episodes occurred in provinces such as Lanao del Sur, Negros Occidental, and Maguindanao del Norte.
The organization strongly condemned these acts, emphasizing that violence has no place in a democratic society. They urged authorities to conduct thorough investigations and hold those responsible accountable.
Automated Counting Machines Faced Technical Issues
While the election day was mostly smooth, the automated counting machines experienced issues that affected operations. The most frequent problems involved ballot handling errors, paper jams, and machines overheating, which slowed down the counting process. Fortunately, these malfunctions were promptly addressed to minimize delays.
After the election, further concerns arose regarding delays in receiving election results and instances of double-recording election returns. These issues caused additional confusion and alarm among observers and stakeholders.
Overvotes Recorded in Various Positions
The watchdog revealed that a significant number of overvotes were recorded nationwide, totaling over 18 million. The position with the highest number of overvotes was senator, with approximately 17 million recorded. Other positions affected included the Sangguniang Bayan and Sangguniang Panlungsod, with over 6.9 million and 4.5 million overvotes respectively.
The national chairperson explained the source of this data came directly from the election returns reported by the automated counting machines. He clarified, “Yung source namin is the election returns na kasama diyan… So, we just added the overvote indicated in the election returns. It was the ACMs that counted and identified those overvotes.”
He further stated, “We don’t know how the ACMs counted the overvotes. The overvote happens when the voter shades more circles than is allowed, yung maximum, than the maximum allowed circles… We are not clear how the overvotes are counted, whether they are based on the number of marks beyond the maximum or it’s an instance of the overvote in a single ballot.”
Call for Transparency and Improved Processes
Despite the challenges faced, the watchdog emphasized that the election day remained largely peaceful and orderly. However, they stressed the need for increased transparency and improvements in election technology to prevent similar issues in the future.
The organization continues to monitor the situation closely and encourages authorities to address technical problems and investigate violent incidents thoroughly. Ensuring the integrity and smooth conduct of elections remains a priority for maintaining public trust.
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