Amid ongoing controversies surrounding the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) is advocating for a hybrid election system in 2025.
This proposed system would combine manual vote counting at precincts with automated result transmission.
In a statement issued on Thursday, August 16, ACT argued that a hybrid system would address transparency and accountability issues inherent in the current automated election system.
The group believes this approach would offer proof of vote counting, facilitate cross-checking of results, and cut election costs by eliminating the need for around 100,000 expensive voting machines and associated equipment.
Additionally, ACT suggested limiting the number of voters per precinct to 200 to 250.
The call for reform follows recent controversies, including the indictment of Smartmatic executives by a US federal grand jury and bribery allegations involving COMELEC Chairman George Garcia and Miru Systems, a South Korean firm contracted for the 2025 election equipment.
The ACT pointed to these issues as evidence of the problematic automation process in the Philippines, which they say lacks mechanisms for verifying vote accuracy.
Despite Garcia's denial of the allegations, ACT raised concerns about Miru Systems' track record, citing past controversies such as compromised ballot secrecy and security issues in elections in Argentina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Iraq.
ACT stressed the need for an investigation into the Miru-Comelec deal and called for increased honoraria for teachers serving as poll workers, emphasizing that these payments should be tax-exempt and include additional compensation for extended hours, along with measures for safety and good working conditions.
Photo: Rappler
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