Comelec to deactivate VCMS’ tape receipts

Vote counting machine (VCM) used in Comelec’s mock election in February 13.
(Photo courtesy of the official Twitter account of Comelec)

MANILA—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will no longer activate the tape receipt, or the voter verified paper audit trail (VVPAT), one of the four security requirements of the automated election system (AES) in the forthcoming polls.

“We will not activate the tape receipt. Ang sabi ko nga there are more disadvantages than advantages,” he said in an interview.

He noted that they were looking at activating the on-screen verification of votes cast in the Vote Count Machines (VCMs).

“Ang tinitingnan namin ‘yong screen verification. Ang problema ng screen ‘yong oras eh. Tapos yong privacy. Nasisilip,” Bautista said.

Asked if it is safe to say that they will activate on-screen verification program? He said, “Hindi pa but I can tell that we will not activate the receipt.”

The poll body chief added, “’Yung sa screen (verification) open pa. In fact nagkaroon na ng preliminary discussion on it.”

The other three security features of the VCMs are: the UV (ultraviolet) lamps, digital signatures of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), and an earlier review of the source code.