Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon. (File photo)
MANILA – An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday said voting through the use of a mobile app is suitable amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, commissioner-in-charge of the Office for Overseas Voting, said once allowed, this method will be useful for Filipinos abroad who want to exercise their right of suffrage using modern technology.
“With this pandemic, there is more reason to push for mobile app voting by Filipinos overseas especially those in the US and our seafarers,” she said in an interview.
Asked on when they intend to start to test abroad, the poll body official added that, “as soon as it is safe”.
Guanzon said they will test the mobile app in countries where there are the least number of Covid-19 cases to ensure the safety of the people.
“We have to choose countries that where there is a very low risk of contamination or we have to find ways to test it without personal contact with the providers,” she added.
The Comelec commissioner said they are looking to tap personnel from consular offices abroad and sea-based workers as “test voters”.
“The test voters are abroad, preferably personnel of our Embassies and seafarers,” Guanzon added.
Guanzon earlier announced that the Comelec en banc has approved a test run for the mobile voting app for overseas voting.
Under Section 28 of Republic Act No. 10590, “the Commission may explore other more efficient, reliable, and secure modes or systems, ensuring the secrecy and sanctity of the entire process, whether paper-based, electronic-based, or internet-based technology or such other latest technology available, for onsite and remote registration and elections and submit reports and/or recommendations to the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC)”.
There are four suppliers that have offered to test run a mobile voting app. These are Indra Sistemas, Voatz, Smartmatic International, and Scytl. (PNA)
