Voters learn to use new ballot machines

Church workers have swung into action with a voter education program ahead of next year’s general election, during which voting will be automated for the first time.

More than 45.6 million Filipinos have registered to vote for a president and other national, provincial and local officials in May. Many hope automation will curb the election fraud and violence that has traditionally marred Philippine elections.

On Oct. 24, more than 1,000 parish workers and volunteers gathered at a Manila Catholic school and watched as a man demonstrated how a ballot machine, which will be used in the polls, scans, counts and collates ballots.

The Precinct Count Optical Scan machine is a computerized ballot box that resembles a big black washing machine. Voters insert their completed ballot papers through a feeder on the lid where they are scanned.

Source: UCA News