Comelec brings VCMs to malls; hopes to ease worry on election fraud

The Commission of Elections has allayed the doubts of some sectors that the election will be rigged using vote counting machines.

Comelec has launched a campaign on Monday, April 18, in which VCMs would be distributed in SM malls to check or test by everyone before the election whether individuals are voters or not.

“We invite all voters to test them and familiarize themselves with these machines so when the election day comes, we are confident that our vote will be recorded and counted securely,” Comelec chair Saidamen Pangarungan said.

The poll body also hopes that by introducing voters to the operation of machines through VCM demonstrations at malls, the election's overall error would be reduced.

“Giving the public this voting experience will lessen errors that the voters usually commit on election day,” Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said.

“Minsan kasi kahit madumihan lang natin ng kaunti ang balota may epekto kung tatanggapin ba ito ng ating vote counting machine,” he added. 

There are 800 ballots reserved per demonstration day at every mall.

Contributed by Thimy Rose D. Noveno