Comelec attributes faster election results transmission to better preparation
The Commission on Elections explained that the faster transmission of results for the 2022 elections, compared to the previous 2019 poll, is due to better preparation and improvement of facilities.
"Mabilis talaga yung transmission kasi pinag-aralan natin ito after 2019. Binago natin," Comelec commissioner Marlon Casquejo said in a press briefing on May 10. "May technology na rin kaya in-e-expect talaga natin na mabilis ngayon."
On the night of the May 2019 elections, a seven-hour glitch occurred wherein canvassed votes from the poll body's transparency server did not reflect in real-time with the digital stream provided for media companies.
Casquejo also said that for this year's elections, initial election returns were transmitted as early as 7:30 PM on May 9 evening because some 106,174 clustered precincts did not experience defects with vote-counting machines (VCM).
“Well, we have 106,174 clustered precincts, yung iba naman doon di sila umabot sa 800 registered voters. Yun yung pinakaunang nakapagtransmit, yun yung walang problem sa makina."
During election day, the poll body reported 1,800 VCM malfunctions due to paper jams, rejected ballots, and SD card defects.
Precincts in areas like Teachers' Village, Commonwealth, and North Fairview in Quezon City had voters still waiting to cast their ballot beyond the official 7 PM cutoff.
NORTH SUSANA CLUBHOUSE. CLUSTERS NUMBER 978 !! PEOPLE ARE HOLDING ON TO THEIR BALLOTS - STILL NOT ABLE TO VOTE. NO SD CARD THE WHOLE DAY #VoteSafePilipinas #Halalan2022 WE ARE HERE WE WILL WAIT WITH THEM 12:12 AM MAY 10 2022 pic.twitter.com/BKSbvZkNou
— Dora #LLL2022 (@doracrybaby) May 9, 2022
DONA ALEJANDRO ROCES CLUSTER 1032 PRECINCT NOS 4625A- 4631A STILL NOT ABLE TO VOTE. #VoteSafePilipinas #halalan2022 TIME 11;54 PM creds to joseph guevarra pic.twitter.com/8wlBQtooq4
— Dora #LLL2022 (@doracrybaby) May 9, 2022
But as Casquejo said, the number of VCMs that were able to transmit data as early as 7 PM outnumber the machines that malfunctioned.
"If we try to compute 106k and we only have 1000 defective vcms, meron tayong 105k na successful sa kanilang election—sila yung unang nakapag transmit. That is why by 7:30 umabot na tayo ng certain percentage ng nakapag transmit," he explained.
Casquejo also said that this year, the poll body "studied" and was able to prepare more for the national elections with the help of new technology.
"What we did in 2022, every [pre-logic accuracy test] natin, every VCM, nakapagtransmit during [the test] that is why we are confident na mataas yung transmission natin. Kung meron mang papalya, siguro the reason is walang signal dun sa area," he added.
Commissioner George Garcia also addressed voters who are doubtful of the initial results in an interview with CNN Philippines.
"The [Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting] is checking the election returns as printed by the machines...I-compare yung hard copy sa transmitted results," he said.
Garcia also said the poll body did not receive complaints from the PPCRV, the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections, or the media about election returns.
As of 2:44 PM, the Commission on Elections has transmitted 97.59% or 105,191 of election returns from the 107,795 total clustered precincts.
The PPCRV has also released their partial and unofficial results with the same number of clustered precincts counted. So far, these yield the same initial results like that from Comelec's transparency server, save for some discrepancies with the senatorial candidates' vote.
Results from the PPCRV are also electronically transmitted. It posted its first election returns on May 9, 8:07 PM.
For more results, visit Bilang Pilipino.