Vote-counting machine demo, trial balloting to be held at SM malls 

DEMONSTRATIONS on the use of vote-counting machines and mock balloting will be held at SM shopping malls nationwide as part of a voter education campaign for the May 9 polls.   

“With this project, we aim to dispel apprehension and fear of some voters regarding the use and security of the vote-counting machines,” Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Saidamen B. Pangarungan said during the partnership signing ceremony with SM Supermalls on Monday, streamed live on Facebook.   

“These are state-of-the-art equipment that have been used by other countries and are engineered to be secure and tamper-proof,” he said.   

SM’s 78 malls across the country will be participating in the campaign.  

Election Commissioner Marlon S. Casquejo said the demonstrations are intended to help lessen common mistakes made by voters on election day.  

Comelec Spokesman James B. Jimenez said each mall demonstration will have about 800 mock ballots, which will contain fictitious names instead of actual candidates.  

“So, we invite our voters to test them and familiarize themselves with these machines,” Mr. Pangarungan said. “So that when election day comes, we are confident that our votes will be recorded and counted securely.” — John Victor D. Ordonez