Comelec agrees to lower 'ballot shading threshold' to 15 percent | ABS-CBN
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Comelec agrees to lower 'ballot shading threshold' to 15 percent
Comelec agrees to lower 'ballot shading threshold' to 15 percent
MANILA - The Commission on Elections en banc approved the proposal of the poll body’s project management office to lower the ballot shading threshold to 15 percent in the 2025 national and local elections.
MANILA - The Commission on Elections en banc approved the proposal of the poll body’s project management office to lower the ballot shading threshold to 15 percent in the 2025 national and local elections.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said lowering the threshold from 25 percent to 15 percent will allow the automated counting machine to read as valid vote marks that cover at least 15 percent of the circle beside a candidate’s name on the ballot.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said lowering the threshold from 25 percent to 15 percent will allow the automated counting machine to read as valid vote marks that cover at least 15 percent of the circle beside a candidate’s name on the ballot.
He added a 15 percent shading threhold is enough to measure “the real intention of the voter.”
He added a 15 percent shading threhold is enough to measure “the real intention of the voter.”
“‘Yung mga ibang kababayan natin, huwag matakot na kung halimbawa naisip nila bakit parang tuldok lang yung nailagay ko sa pagboto, mabibilang po yan so long nga it is more or less 15% of the kabuuan ng bilog na kanila po i-accomplish,” Garcia told reporters.
“‘Yung mga ibang kababayan natin, huwag matakot na kung halimbawa naisip nila bakit parang tuldok lang yung nailagay ko sa pagboto, mabibilang po yan so long nga it is more or less 15% of the kabuuan ng bilog na kanila po i-accomplish,” Garcia told reporters.
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Still, Garcia urged voters to properly shade ballots.
Still, Garcia urged voters to properly shade ballots.
“Pero sana po, ang pakiusap natin i-accomplish naman po ng mga kababayan natin yung kabuuan ng bilog na andun yung katabi yung pangalan, numero at pangalan ng mismong kandidato o party list. Sapagkat napakaliit naman po ng bilog, madali naman po i-accomplish sapagkat yung ating pen na ginagamit, ay kumakalat naman po yan… Kahit po sumobra, babasahin po 'yun ng makina,” Garcia said.
“Pero sana po, ang pakiusap natin i-accomplish naman po ng mga kababayan natin yung kabuuan ng bilog na andun yung katabi yung pangalan, numero at pangalan ng mismong kandidato o party list. Sapagkat napakaliit naman po ng bilog, madali naman po i-accomplish sapagkat yung ating pen na ginagamit, ay kumakalat naman po yan… Kahit po sumobra, babasahin po 'yun ng makina,” Garcia said.
The Comelec implemented the lowest threshold to date in 2010 at 20 percent. It implemented a 25 percent threshold in the last 2022 elections.
The Comelec implemented the lowest threshold to date in 2010 at 20 percent. It implemented a 25 percent threshold in the last 2022 elections.
COMELEC ACCEPTS MIRU'S FINANCIAL CONTRACTING CAPACITY
Meanwhile, the Comelec en banc also accepted the Net Financial Contracting Capacity (NFCC) submitted by Miru Systems Inc. and its remaining partners following the withdrawal of St. Timothy Construction Corporation (STCC) from the joint venture.
Meanwhile, the Comelec en banc also accepted the Net Financial Contracting Capacity (NFCC) submitted by Miru Systems Inc. and its remaining partners following the withdrawal of St. Timothy Construction Corporation (STCC) from the joint venture.
Garcia said the en banc has accepted the recommendation of its law department finding the NFCC as sufficient and in order.
Garcia said the en banc has accepted the recommendation of its law department finding the NFCC as sufficient and in order.
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“The NFCC as verified and recomputed by the Law Department amounts to PHP19,253,817,256.42 which is more (than) the FASTraC project's Contract Price of Php 17,988,878,226.55. The Law Department finds the NFCC submitted by the provider sufficient and in order,” read the memo of the Comelec’s project management office on the matter.
“The NFCC as verified and recomputed by the Law Department amounts to PHP19,253,817,256.42 which is more (than) the FASTraC project's Contract Price of Php 17,988,878,226.55. The Law Department finds the NFCC submitted by the provider sufficient and in order,” read the memo of the Comelec’s project management office on the matter.
Gusto ko rin po i-confirm that the Commission and Bank accepted the recommendation of the Law Department, confirming, taking note, and accepting yung pong NFCC, Net Financial Contracting Capacity na sinabmit nung natitirang dalawang joint venture partners ay sufficient and in compliance doon sa requirement po natin. And therefore, pinapainform namin yung mismo MIRU and the two remaining joint venture partners of this decision of the Commission to accept the recommendation of the Law Department,” Garcia said.
Gusto ko rin po i-confirm that the Commission and Bank accepted the recommendation of the Law Department, confirming, taking note, and accepting yung pong NFCC, Net Financial Contracting Capacity na sinabmit nung natitirang dalawang joint venture partners ay sufficient and in compliance doon sa requirement po natin. And therefore, pinapainform namin yung mismo MIRU and the two remaining joint venture partners of this decision of the Commission to accept the recommendation of the Law Department,” Garcia said.
REPAIR HUBS FOR ACMS
The Comelec en banc also approved the list of the proposed location and venue of Technical Hubs in connection with the May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections which Garcia said will also be published.
The Comelec en banc also approved the list of the proposed location and venue of Technical Hubs in connection with the May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections which Garcia said will also be published.
Garcia said this will be the first time that every province will have a repair hub for the ACMs.
Garcia said this will be the first time that every province will have a repair hub for the ACMs.
The poll body expects the manufacturing of the ACMs to be completed and delivered within November from Korea to the Philippines.
The poll body expects the manufacturing of the ACMs to be completed and delivered within November from Korea to the Philippines.
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“Ang dapat nakalagay sa kontrata talaga ay last week ng December. Pero ang recent na balita na sa atin is second week of November na andito na. Sapagkat kung tapos na ang lahat ng mga makina, yung kabuuan ng 110,000 out of ngayon kasi halos 80,000 na, mahigit yung ating natanggap. So, konting-konti na lang yung imamanufacture. Kung matatapos yan bukas, darating siya exact yung second week kasi i-ship from Korea papunta sa Pilipinas. And pag nangyari yun, kumpleto na yung aming lahat ng mga makina, so dire-diretso na lang yung testing na gagawin natin,” Garcia said.
“Ang dapat nakalagay sa kontrata talaga ay last week ng December. Pero ang recent na balita na sa atin is second week of November na andito na. Sapagkat kung tapos na ang lahat ng mga makina, yung kabuuan ng 110,000 out of ngayon kasi halos 80,000 na, mahigit yung ating natanggap. So, konting-konti na lang yung imamanufacture. Kung matatapos yan bukas, darating siya exact yung second week kasi i-ship from Korea papunta sa Pilipinas. And pag nangyari yun, kumpleto na yung aming lahat ng mga makina, so dire-diretso na lang yung testing na gagawin natin,” Garcia said.
END-TO-END TESTING
He also reported the success of the conduct of the end-to-end testing of the automated election system or the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count (FASTrAC) and Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS), including the transmission of results.
He also reported the success of the conduct of the end-to-end testing of the automated election system or the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count (FASTrAC) and Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS), including the transmission of results.
Garcia said adjustments will be made including on the kind of paper to be used so the machine will not reject ballots.
Garcia said adjustments will be made including on the kind of paper to be used so the machine will not reject ballots.
ELECTION VIOLENCE
The Comelec also joined the Commission on Human Rights in condemning “the recent surge of violence targeting election candidates and officials in various parts of the country.”
The Comelec also joined the Commission on Human Rights in condemning “the recent surge of violence targeting election candidates and officials in various parts of the country.”
Garcia also called for the end of private armed groups as he expressed support for the order of the DILG to crack down on private armies.
Garcia also called for the end of private armed groups as he expressed support for the order of the DILG to crack down on private armies.
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“We strongly condemn all of these acts of violence. Hindi po dapat, dapat po pinapakiusap natin sa ating law enforcement ating authorities, dapat para magtiwala ang sambayanan kaagad na maaresto 'yan pong mga culprit o yung may kadahilanan o may kagagawan ng bagay na yan madami na po kami mga kasamahan na nagsakripisyo ng buhay dahil lang sa maling paniniwala na may kinakampihan yung mismo mga tauhan namin and therefore kami rin mismo ay nanghihini ng katarungan doon sa pagkamatay ng ilan naming mga tauhan… At sana sa mga darating na halalan, sana po mapigilan ang mga bagay na yan,” Garcia said.
“We strongly condemn all of these acts of violence. Hindi po dapat, dapat po pinapakiusap natin sa ating law enforcement ating authorities, dapat para magtiwala ang sambayanan kaagad na maaresto 'yan pong mga culprit o yung may kadahilanan o may kagagawan ng bagay na yan madami na po kami mga kasamahan na nagsakripisyo ng buhay dahil lang sa maling paniniwala na may kinakampihan yung mismo mga tauhan namin and therefore kami rin mismo ay nanghihini ng katarungan doon sa pagkamatay ng ilan naming mga tauhan… At sana sa mga darating na halalan, sana po mapigilan ang mga bagay na yan,” Garcia said.
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