The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Pangasinan has successfully concluded a two-month roadshow aimed at educating voters on the use of automated counting machines (ACMs) ahead of the May 12 elections. The campaign, which spanned all 1,364 barangays in the province, kicked off on December 2, 2023, and concluded on Friday.
Ericson Oganiza, the Comelec supervisor for Pangasinan, confirmed in a recent phone interview that the initiative was the sole voter education program in the province. He emphasized that every community was reached, with smaller villages participating in demonstrations held in larger areas. The roadshow also included sessions in schools and venues specifically targeting youth and senior citizens.
The ACMs introduced during the campaign boast advanced features such as an optical mark reader, direct recording electronic capabilities, a battery life exceeding 14 hours, a 14-inch touchscreen, enhanced scanning speed, automatic receipt cutting, a built-in compartment for voter receipts, and accessibility options for voters with disabilities. Comelec has assured the public that these machines are secure and not susceptible to hacking, as they do not require an Internet connection during vote casting.
With over 2.17 million registered voters in Pangasinan, the successful completion of this campaign is crucial. Meanwhile, the status of election areas of concern remains unchanged, with Dagupan City, Urdaneta City, and the municipalities of Aguilar, Binmaley, Malasiqui, Mangaldan, and Sual still categorized as ‘yellow’ due to factors like intense political rivalry or previous election-related incidents.