Comelec: VCM Glitches ‘Too Small’ Compared to Past Elections

Comelec: Incidents of Vote Counting Machine Glitches ‘Too Small’ Compared to Previous Elections

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) insisted on Tuesday, May 10, during a press conference that the vote counting machine (VCM) glitching incidents were not that significant compared to the previous elections.

Comelec commissioner Marlon Casquejo said they received reports that about 915 VCMs malfunctioned during the May 9 elections.

"Masyadong maliit... If you try to compute, 915 VCM malfunctions, multiply it by average of 500 per registered voters, maliit lang 'yun as compared to the total number of 64 million plus registered voters," he said.

("[The number of malfunctioned VCMs] is too small… If you try to compute, 915 VCM malfunctions, multiply it by average of 500 per registered voters, that’s small compared to the total number of 64 million plus registered voters.")

Comelec acting spokesman Rex Laudiangco added that voters were "not disenfranchised" by the VCM glitches.

"Wala pong na-disenfranchise despite the isolated issues on VCMs and the SD cards… All of these lessons will be taken to heart by the commission," he said.

(No one was disenfranchised despite the isolated issues on VCMs and the SD cards… All of these lessons will be taken to heart by the commission.)

With more than 106,000 VCMs sent to different clustered precincts around the country, Casquejo said they anticipated that some machines would encounter problems and recommended getting new VCMs in time for the 2025 midterm elections.

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