Random Manual Audit Begins for Eleksyon 2025
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has officially launched the random manual audit of ballots from over 700 clustered precincts selected at random, including one online voting post, for Eleksyon 2025. This process aims to verify the accuracy of the automated counting machines used during the election.
At least 60 teams from the Department of Education (DepEd), composed of teachers who did not serve as election board members, are conducting the audit. These teams are reviewing ballots from 726 randomly chosen clustered precincts to confirm the machines’ accuracy as part of the legally required validation.
Why the Random Manual Audit Matters
PPCRV Trustee Tammy Lipana explained the importance of this step: “Importante to kasi malalaman nila na ang kanilang balot na binasa ng makina, tinitingnan din ng tao para ma-verify na tama naman pala ang bilang ng machines.” This means the public can trust that their votes, initially counted by machines, are also being checked by human auditors to ensure correctness.
She added, “Ma-assure ang public na ang machines na ginamit, accurate naman pala ang bilang dahil naprove sa manual counting na tama ang bilang ng machines.” This manual verification reassures voters of the machines’ reliability.
Legal Framework and Process Details
The random manual audit is mandated by Section 29 of the Automated Election System (AES) Act. It requires that one precinct per congressional district be randomly selected for manual audit in every province and city where automated voting is used.
The audit began at a hotel in Pasay and is expected to continue for up to 45 days. This thorough process helps maintain the integrity and transparency of the election system.
Consistent Accuracy Since 2010
Election officials report that the random manual audit has consistently confirmed a 99.9% accuracy rate since the automated elections began in 2010. This high accuracy level strengthens public confidence in the election results.
With the random manual audit in place, voters can feel assured that their ballots are being thoroughly checked both by machines and human auditors throughout the election process.
For ongoing coverage and updates about Eleksyon 2025, visit Filipinokami.com.