ASSIGNMENT 3

Thoughts about the automated election…

Terms to identify:

Electronic Voting System-

Electronic voting (also known as e-voting) is a term encompassing several different types of voting, embracing both electronic means of casting a vote and electronic means of counting votes.

Electronic voting technology can include punch cards, optical scan voting systems and specialized voting kiosks (including self-contained Direct-recording electronic (DRE) voting systems). It can also involve transmission of ballots and votes via telephones, private computer networks, or the Internet.

Electronic voting technology can speed the counting of ballots and can provide improved accessibility for disabled voters. However, there has been contention, especially in the United States, that electronic voting, especially DRE voting, could facilitate electoral fraud.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_voting

Electronic Voting Machines-

Voting machines are the total combination of mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic equipment (including software, firmware, and documentation required to program control, and support equipment), that is used to define ballots; to cast and count votes; to report or display election results; and to maintain and produce any audit trail information. The first voting machines were mechanical but it is increasingly more common to use electronic voting machines.

A voting system includes the practices and associated documentation used to identify system components and versions of such components; to test the system during its development and maintenance; to maintain records of system errors or defects; to determine specific changes made after initial certification; and to make available any materials to the voter (such as notices, instructions, forms, or paper ballots).

Traditionally, a voting machine has been defined by the mechanism the system uses to cast votes and further categorized by the location where the system tabulates the votes.

Voting machines have different usability, security, efficiency and accuracy. Certain systems may be more or less accessible to all voters, or not accessible to those voters with certain types of disabilities. They can also have an effect on the public's ability to oversee elections.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_machine

Result in Automated Election:

-Sahi’s voting solution delivers first ever automated election in Philippines (ARMM)

Manila, Philippines, August 13, 2008 – In the wake of the first automated election in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Smartmatic-SAHI today announced that its voting solution, the Smartmatic Automated Election System (SAES), performed with complete reliability and accuracy. During the election, the SAES machines transmitted accurately, rapidly and reliably, and after the polls closed, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) certified the results, which was accepted by the representatives of the different political parties.

“This was a first ever of its kind election in many ways for the ARMM, and the fact that we had record voter turnout, results were accepted by all parties, and it is all fully auditable, at Smartmatic-SAHI, we believe this could not have been possible without our trusted voting solution,” said Antonio Mugica, Chief Executive Officer, Smartmatic.

In the closely monitored election, voters elected Zaldy Ampatuan as the Governor of the province. Key electoral statistics include:

Voter turn out in Maguindanao: 93.48%

Overall Voter turn out: 84%

Automated precincts: 5170

Electronic Voting machines used: 2,558

Transmitted Voters: 1,528,839

Time to Cast Vote: Less than 30 seconds

Electronic Voting Machine Support Technicians: 533

SAES -- Simpler + Faster automated voting system

The voters in the province of Maguindanao used Smartmatic-SAHI’s automated voting solution, which was able to reduce the time needed to cast and transmit votes. In particular, to streamline the process for citizens with limited literacy, photographs of the three gubernatorial candidates appeared on the screen, and voters merely had to touch the candidate of their choice to cast a ballot – allowing many to cast their vote in under 30 seconds.

To provide the highest level of security, the SAES system randomly stores and encrypts votes in seven different places, guaranteeing 100% security and auditability of the voting process. In addition, all Smartmatic-SAHI voting systems are equipped with a voter verified paper trail (VVPT) printed on security-enhanced paper as soon as each vote is cast. This ballot “receipt” shows the vote the machine has just recorded and allows the voter to verify that their vote was recorded correctly. It also serves as a physical backup in the event of an audit.

And to simplify the voting process for authorities, Smartatic-SAHI’s systems are “ready to go” voting solutions. Preconfigured for each precinct, they require no set-up and only needed to be transported to the appropriate locations. Moreover, since the systems are fully automated they do not require any human interaction to summarize votes – reducing errors and tampering. And equally important, they are a cost-effective solution – removing the need for expensive paper ballots.

In contrast, citizens in the other 5 provinces (Shariff Kabunsuan, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi) voted on paper ballots, or Optical Mark Reader (OMR). This multi-step process is done by filling in an oval next to the candidate’s name, and subsequently, all the ballots are scanned and tallied by a counting machine.

The OMR systems were provided by Avante.

“The election results showed that Smartmatic-SAHI’s automated voting machines, as opposed to paper ballots, allow for both voters to cast votes in up to half the time and results to transmitted quickly. But most important, our technology is 100% tamper proof and delivers the ultimate election security,” said Mugica.

To ensure a smooth and seamless election, all of SAES voting solutions were equipped with back-up battery packs that last up to 16 hours, as power outages are common in the remote region. In addition, Smartmatic-SAHI’s employed 255 network technicians to support the polling centers in Maguindanao and an additional 40 technicians to serve as mobile teams to support canvassing centers as needed.

Source: http://www.smartmatic.com/pressroom/article/article/smartmatic-sahis-voting-solution-delivers-first-ever-automated-election-in-philippines-autonomous-r/

My thoughts and opinions

Thinking of these issues about the automated elections is a very big responsibility to one of us. Giving thoughts and opinions can help the people to understand and decide which is good to do to our election process here in the Philippines.

In my own opinion, these automated elections have advantages that may be the key to the very poor election process here in the Philippines. One of its advantages is the fast process of election. Another is less error. Less error because using the computers it can give more accurate results that the people can do but not it has less percentage.

As mentioned above, the result of the automated election in the region of ARMM was fast. Giving some statistic shows that it really has the power and advantage to change the process of election in the Philippines. The thoughts and opinions of everyone in the result of election of the ARMM some were good and some were confusing. Good because of the speedy process and bad because others think it was cheated because again of the speedy process of it.

I can say that these voting machines can really be cheated in the way that people are the one who make it and manage it. Also, I conclude that it give advantage to us. But thinking of those issues was not the main issue. The main issue for me is the principles of everyone that make these happen. If you want a true election it should begin I yourself. To be honest is the key.

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(^_^)..cocoi™