The Philippines is set for a major change in its electoral process as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) moves away from the traditional Vote-Counting Machines (VCMs) to the new Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) from South Korea’s Miru Systems for the 2025 midterm elections.
The shift aims to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and transparency of vote counting, addressing concerns about the reliability of the previous system.
The ACMs will integrate both Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) and Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) technologies, offering faster ballot processing speeds and improved accuracy.
Despite some concerns over the readiness of the new machines, the move is seen as a step towards modernizing the elections and restoring public trust.
The new ACMs will also feature touchscreen voting for overseas voters and enhanced security features, including QR codes on voter receipts, to ensure transparency and prevent tampering.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 1, 2025
