In preparation for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has rolled out 144 automated counting machines (ACMs) across all cities and towns in Eastern Visayas. The initiative, which began on Monday, December 2, 2024, in Tacloban City, aims to familiarize voters with the new voting technology and process.
Comelec Assistant Regional Director Corazon Montallana announced that the demonstration tour will continue until January 30, 2025, with the goal of reaching as many voters as possible throughout the nation. Each city and town in the region has been equipped with one machine for demonstrations in every village, ensuring widespread access to the technology.
The region, comprising seven cities and 136 towns across six provinces, also has an additional machine stationed at the Comelec regional office for demonstrations targeted at government offices and media. To ensure the smooth operation of the roadshow, four to five contingency machines are available at each of the six Comelec provincial offices.
The primary objective of these demonstrations is to educate voters on the use of the new ACMs, which are specifically designed for the 2025 elections. Montallana emphasized the importance of voters learning to operate these machines, which are noted for their speed and efficiency. Key features of the new machines include an automatic receipt cutter, headphones and keypads for vulnerable sectors, and a 14-inch touch screen for reviewing selections.
The ACMs are capable of processing ballots in just three seconds and are equipped with batteries that can last up to 14 hours when unplugged, ensuring reliability during the voting process.