Republic of the Philippines

Angono National High School

Angono, Rizal

A RESEARCH PAPER

AUTOMATED 2010 ELECTION,

THE KEY TO A CLEAN
ELECTION

Submitted by:

Michael L. Paulo

Submitted to:

Mrs. Emelita G. Doctora

PREFACE
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE ------------------ Automated 2010 Election, a Key to a Clean Election

Past Elections
TITLE
BIBLIOGRAPHY
As we all know, the Filipinos are gearing up for the automation on 2010 Presidential Elections. But just
like any start up project, these would bring so much worries to many. For sure, the fear factor would really
come up along the way. Whether we like it or not, there would be some potential problems that will arise. I’m
not saying that we can’t do it, in fact I believe that Pinoys are fast learners, what we need I think are
sufficient public information on the automated elections, or if possible, conduct some mock polls at least on
selected areas.

We all want a clean election to put in power the real choice of the people. We just hope that this coming
2010, technical issues on automated polls won’t hinder our intention to have very competent and honest
leaders. We just hope, that failure of elections will not be an issue just because of technical efficiency of the
systems. As a start up1

UP Law Professor Harry Roque and the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) have been at the receiving end
of criticisms ever since they filed a petition before the Supreme Court(SC)questioning the legality of fully-
automated elections in May 2010. Although clearly expressing their position that they favor automated
elections, Harry Roque and CCM's move is seen as abetting the agents of electoral fraud who thrive under
our antiquated manual election system.

One of the major objections posed by Roque and CCM is the holding of a nationwide automated elections in
May 2010. According to Roque and CCM, Republic Act 9369 (law amending the Poll Modernization Act or
RA 8436) mandates Comelec to pilot test poll automation first by holding it in selected cities and provinces
only for the coming national and local elections. A closer reading of RA 9369 will show that Roque and CCM
are merely acting as proponents of the rule of law.

We were led to think that Congress finally crafted a mandate for full automation in the coming 2010
elections, but a review of the amendatory law will reveal that it provides for a hybrid election (partly
automated and partly manual) only. The pertinent section of the law that justifies this assertion is as follows:

SEC. 6. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8436 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 5 Authority to Use an Automated Election System. - To carry out the above-stated policy, the
Commission on Elections, herein referred to as the Commission, is hereby authorized to use an automated
election system or systems in the same election in different provinces, whether paper-based or a direct
recording electronic election system as it may deem appropriate and practical for the process of voting,
counting of votes and canvassing/consolidation and transmittal of results of electoral exercises: Provided,
that for the regular national and local election, which shall be held immediately after
effectivity of this Act, the AES shall be used in at least two highly urbanized cities and two
provinces each in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, to be chosen by the Commission: Provided,
further, That local government units whose officials have been the subject of administrative
charges within sixteen (16) month prior to the May 14, 2007 election shall not be chosen:
Provided, finally, That no area shall be chosen without the consent of the Sanggunian of the
local government unit concerned. The term local government unit as used in this provision
shall refer to a highly urbanized city or province. In succeeding regular national or local
elections, the AES shall be implemented nationwide."