Comelec on Mar. 8, 2025 demonstrates the “trusted build” of the online voting and counting system for the May midterm elections. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Commission on Elections on Saturday tested the “trusted build” capability of its pilot online voting and counting system for the May 12 midterm elections.

The event was attended by members of the Comelec, Technical Evaluation Committee and election observers such as the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections. 

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said this is the last test for their system involving their source code. The commission expects to issue a certification for the Automated Election System after this.

"Sine-certify na, pinapatunayan na okay naman ang sistemang ating gagamitin," Garcia said, likening the check to a final inspection of a vehicle before being allowed on the road.

(We are certifying it, we are saying the system we will use is OK)

An international certifier, he said, would arrive next week to witness the sealing of the source code, which would be later deposited with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. 

The certification will be submitted to the Technical Evaluation Committee, an independent body composed of individuals from the poll body, Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

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INTERNET VOTING

The Comelec had to show that the systems they are using work in coordination with each other, most especially for the overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who would vote online in this pilot program. 

Enrollment for online voting will start on March 20 and end on May 7. Test voting, meanwhile, will happen until April 13, according to the Comelec. The actual voting period is from April 13 to May 12.  

“Yung 1.3 million na mga kababayan natin abroad, hindi sila automatically makakaboto, kinakailangan i-enroll nila ang sarili nila kasi bibigyan sila ng password,” he said.

(Our 1.3 million voters abroad will need to enroll in the system to get a password)

He said the system will also have to verify their identities through government IDs like passports, seaman's books, and similar identity documents.

A one-time-pin will be provided to the online voter.

“Ang pagboto po sa abroad ay isang buong buwan. Mayroon tayong 17 posts abroad na hindi mag-iinternet voting, magpapadala pa rin tayo ng makina kung saan makina ang gagamitin natin dito sa araw ng election,” he said.  

(Voting abroad will be for a month. There are 17 posts abroad where we will not implement internet voting. We will send a vote-counting machine for use there on election day)

Among the posts where internet voting will not be offered are China and Russia.

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Namfrel Chairperson Lito Averia said they would test the online voting build for themselves. 

“Ito na ang kahulihang automated voting system na hinihintay natin mabuo. Idi-discuss pa rin namin ang pinaka-source ng code, OVCS. Parang kaunting review na lang siguro yan kasi alam naman namin yung kabuuan,” said Averia. 

(This is the last part of the automated voting system that we were waiting to be completed. We will still discuss the source code, but it will just be a review because we know what it generally is)

He said the tests will be done in the following days and will focus on issues like security.

The Namfrel chief said they would continue monitoring any concerns on the online voting system.