By Leonard Francisco (in collaboration with ChatGPT AI)
Let’s be real—every election in the Philippines comes with its fair share of doubts. Whether it’s allegations of preloaded SD cards, failed transmissions, or the classic dagdag-bawas (vote padding and shaving), people always question whether their votes really count. With our elections now fully automated, you’d think things would be more transparent, but many still don’t trust the system.
This lack of trust isn’t baseless. In past elections, there have been multiple reports of irregularities and controversies surrounding the automated election system. For example:
- 2016 Elections: Vice-presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos accused Smartmatic of unauthorized script changes that allegedly altered vote counts. The Department of Justice even indicted Smartmatic and COMELEC personnel for cybercrime violations related to the election (Wikipedia).
- 2022 Elections: Former DICT Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. questioned how 53% of election returns were transmitted within 90 minutes of polls closing—an improbably fast rate given standard transmission processes. He also pointed out discrepancies in timestamps that suggested potential manipulation. A petition was filed with the Supreme Court to investigate, but it was ultimately ignored (Wikipedia).
- 2024 Indictment of Smartmatic Executives: A U.S. federal grand jury indicted former COMELEC Chairman Andres Bautista and Smartmatic officers for allegedly bribing officials to secure election-related contracts in the 2016 elections (AP News).
With all these issues, it’s clear that we need stronger safeguards to ensure the integrity of our elections. Here’s how we can make the system more transparent and secure.
1. Make the Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) More Transparent
One of the biggest concerns people have is whether the machines themselves are being tampered with. If we want real transparency, the system needs to be open for scrutiny.
✔ Publicly Audit the Source Code – Comelec already allows a review of the VCM source code, but let’s be honest—who actually gets to see it? Instead of doing this quietly a few months before elections, it should be open to independent IT experts and watchdogs much earlier.
✔ Fix the SD Card Issue – Remember those reports about SD cards with votes already inside them? That’s a serious red flag. We can prevent this by:
- Randomly assigning SD cards on election day to prevent preloaded data.
- Using a hash verification system to make sure the SD card hasn’t been tampered with.
2. Let’s Use the Paper Audit Trail for More Than Just Receipts
Did you know that the VCM prints out a receipt of your vote? That’s good, but it’s not enough.
✔ Instead of just letting voters check their receipts and throw them away, we should:
- Use them for random manual audits—compare the digital tallies with paper trails to catch discrepancies.
- Publicly share audit results so people can see if the machines counted their votes correctly.
3. Make the Transmission Process Tamper-Proof
One of the most suspicious moments in every election is when results get stuck in transmission for hours. What’s happening behind the scenes? Why do delays always seem to benefit certain candidates?
✔ Independent Real-Time Monitoring – Election watchdogs like NAMFREL and PPCRV should be able to see the transmission logs live, not just after the fact.
✔ Backup Transmission Methods – If a VCM fails to send results, there should be automatic backups, like satellite transmission, to prevent any gaps where votes could be manipulated.
4. Let the People Watch the Process
You know how banks have security cameras everywhere? Our elections should be the same—because votes are just as valuable as money.
✔ Election watchers, citizen volunteers, and political parties should be allowed to:
- Observe every step of the process, from initializing SD cards to final vote canvassing.
- Access a public election results website where precinct-level results are updated in real time.
5. Live-Stream the Canvassing Process
✔ If we can live-stream concerts and gaming tournaments, why not the vote count? National canvassing should be broadcast online, so anyone can monitor it in real time. This would eliminate suspicions about last-minute number changes.
6. Consider Blockchain for a More Secure System
✔ Imagine if every vote was recorded on a blockchain ledger—meaning no one could alter or delete it. Countries like Estonia are already using blockchain-based voting systems for secure, tamper-proof elections. Why not try it here?
7. Hold Officials and Tech Providers Accountable
✔ The Comelec and election tech providers (like Smartmatic) must be held responsible for any system failures.
✔ If machines break down or transmission fails, there should be clear penalties for negligence or misconduct.
Final Thoughts: It’s Time for Change
Elections in the Philippines have come a long way, but doubts about transparency are still there. If we really want to trust our democracy, we need to demand a system that’s open, secure, and accountable.
These changes won’t happen overnight, but the more people push for stronger security measures, independent monitoring, and real public participation, the harder it will be for anyone to cheat the system.
What do you think? What other changes should we fight for in our elections? Let’s start the conversation now!
(This article was written in collaboration with ChatGPT AI to highlight key election transparency issues and solutions, with references from Wikipedia and AP News.)
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