Third Assignment:
My thoughts about the automated election:
Before I give my thoughts about the automated election here in the Philippines, let us know first what automated election is. Automated election system is a system using appropriate technology for voting and electronic devices to count votes and canvass/consolidate results.
Having an automated election system this coming 2010 election? Well, am pretty much aware that the coming election would be done in a newer way- from a manual voting system to an automated one. But, is there really enough time to do this? Maybe yes, if there are good programmers to work for the success of this automated election. It would be a great help for the Philippines if the automated election system is done right and securely because it may curb cheating. This would be the first automated election here in the Philippines in response for the Filipino voters who aim to have a fair election. It a great relief to all of us because we will be rest assured that our votes is safe and create a government with leaders that are truly chosen by the majority of the Filipinos..
When the Philippines decided to have an automated election, there are two companies that will be involved for this. They are the Smartmatic International (foreign company) and the Total Information Management Corporation (Filipino-owned Company). These companies have been set back on track for the 2010 automated election.
“Smartmatic is a multinational company that specializes in the design and end-to-end deployment of complex purpose-specific technology solutions. With an unsurpassed technology base, continuous innovation, and quality in processes and results, Smartmatic is organized around three business areas: Electronic voting systems, intelligent and integrated security systems for large enterprises and governments, and advanced solutions for people registration and authentication for a wide range of government applications.
Smartmatic is a privately held company with offices in the US, Mexico, Venezuela, Barbados, Spain, Philippines and Taiwan. It has more than 200 employees worldwide. Its capacity for innovation and wide range of products and services have earned Smartmatic extensive recognition in the technology community worldwide.”
Reference: http://www.smartmatic.com/pressroom/article/article/smartmatic-demonstrates-election-technology-to-filipino-journalists/
“Total Information Management (TIM) Corporation is a wholly Filipino owned Information Technology (IT) company with nationwide operations offering varied products and services. It considers itself as "The Filipino IT Company" competing in a field dominated by multinationals.”
Reference: http://www.timcorp.net/main/index.php?pg=about.tim
One day, the Filipinos were alarmed with the news that we may have to go back to the old-manual election because the local partner of Smartmatic , which is the Total Information Management Corporation, backed out of the deal with the COMELEC. Various reactions and reasons flooded by several news articles and on the television. Some says that the TIM Corporation had a problem with the revenue-sharing model with Smartmatic or the conflict is about the necessary money to fund the activity. From the reference that I have read from the net, the TIM president was pulling out their partnership with the Smartmatic with an unspecified reason. He just simply says, “Irreconcilable difference”. Wow! Even I, I was barely puzzled with his reason and I really wonder what this means.
But after that controversial issue, I have read a relieving one. One of my resources/reference that I have read in which they post it on the 3rd day of July, 2009, discuss that the Philippines says plan for automation again. According to the head of the Commission on Elections or Comelec, “We’re back to automation”. It is after the Filipino Company, TIM Corporation, signed for a joint venture agreement with the Smartmatic to supply 82,000 counting machines that would be use this coming May 2010 for the election that is estimated to finish for only two days using the automated one.
or this 2010 election, many of us want to have a fair voting even if it’s a manual system or the more modernized one which is the automated election system. Using this automated election would be a great help for an easier and faster way of voting but after reading those issues/news, am a bit of doubt if this would gave us a peaceful voting system this coming May 2010. There are still possible conflicts or problems maybe technically that may occur this coming election. With those two companies, the two companies must have an equal control on the operations to avoid misunderstanding or conflicts. The decision-making should not fall solely to one company but they should have a joint force towards a successful automated election system. Money should not be the issue for this. If the government would pursue to have this automated election, they should give an exact budget for a more satisfying output. And I hope that no corruption would be involved.
Well, these are just some of the things that I observed. But as a Filipino citizen of this democratic country and a sooner voter to, I always wish that our voice through our votes will be heard fairly and honestly for a bigger future.
References:• http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno8436.htm
• http://www.smartmatic.com/pressroom/article/article/smartmatic-commends-automation-of-elections-in-the-philippines/
• http://www.jpsimbulan.com/2008/08/06/is-the-philippines-ready-for-an-automated-election-system/
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