ooThe proposal to computerize elections in May 2007 – if there is an election – has been proposed. However, the coverage is only limited. Areas like the National Capital Region, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Cebu and Batanes are the ones to be covered. Around P100, 000,000 had been asked to fund this project. The mechanics of transmission of votes and consolidation had been considered achievable but the computerized voting and counting would still be a problem. Those are sensitive areas where manipulations could be possible unless proper safeguards are installed.

The Commission on Election has wisely chosen the areas and phases of the election process. First, the Commission had chosen the vote rich NCR and the problematic ARMM, the largest and voting provinces outside the NCR as pilot projects. Transfer of election information in the NCR would be easy since the area communication facilities of the area are well developed. The problem is how the volume of information will be handled.

Electoral information in the ARMM could have been defined. There had been attempts to computerize the election process in that region. It would need some adaptation to the system to be installed. One of the biggest problems in the ARMM is the elimination of ghost and flying voters. Voters lists must undergo extensive and intensive checking and cross checking before election starts. Communication centers must be well guarded to prevent sabotage. While the NCR election system operates on an urban environment, Cebu and Batanes would need a rural based system. There might not be a great difference between the two but the difference exists. Certain procedures may not fit. Some fine-tuning might be required. In computer systems design, all possible eventualities have to be considered.

The budget asked is not enough for complete automation. Only information transmission and consolidation is assured. For transmission of results, scanners and cell phones can be used. However, security codes must be installed. This is to prevent sending of false information. Senders and receivers can be immediately identified and if tampered data are sent they can be prosecuted.

Computerized voting and counting is still far off. More machines will be needed if voters are to enter their choice. Then this will need some degree of literacy to be able them to enter their vote independently. If illiterates are to vote, push button machines are needed but secrecy of the ballot will have to be sacrificed. Either, the illiterates have to undergo some sort of orientation or disenfranchise them altogether. Another need that will arise is the services of computer accountants. They would not only safeguard the software but of the data and information as well. Padding and shaving of votes could be made impractical if computer accounting is practiced. Any deviation from accounting criteria may be exposed. When the total of votes counted will exceed. The number of votes cast then something is wrong.

The partial automated election will serve as a pilot project for the next exercise. Total computerization can be safely attempted after kinks are ironed out. However, there could be other politicians who pray that computerized election will be a flop. A good system will prevent or eliminate manipulations. Computerization of elections in developed countries is already an accomplished fact. We are still in the manual stage.