Fight for ballot box voting in disputed election

Philadelphia May 12, 2025 sees local and national elections, and the Democratic Party of the Philippines-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), the political party of incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte, appeals for a hand-to-hand vote count at the precinct level. This call is to support the party's "electoral transparency and compliance" advocacy along with the Election Automation Law.

On April 28, 2025, PDP-Laban called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to enforce Section 31 of Republic Act No. 9369, which amends Republic Act 8436. The provision mandates that ballots must be read aloud and individually during the vote counting process.

The party has also accused "Comelec public updates regarding Automated Counting Machines (ACMs)," implying the poll body of misrepresenting guidelines on internet connectivity during voting.

In Comelec Resolution No. 11098, PDP-Laban insisted that ACMs must be operated "offline" until the election returns (ERs) are printed and secured. The commission was urged to issue a clarificatory resolution to formally clarify internet connectivity during voting.

COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia has stated that the ACMs will not be connected to the internet during voting:

"That's automatic. If it's not in the guidelines, it means there is absolutely no internet connection, nor will there ever be one. If the internet were to be used, it should be explicitly stated in the rules ... What is not included is excluded-that's the principle. And that is something a skilled and knowledgeable lawyer like him should fully understand," stated Garcia in response to accusations alleging that there is a hidden provision mandating an automatic Scrutinization and Counting of ballots without manual checking and review of resolutions.[David Ezra Francisquete]

Behind the Scenes:

The debate between PDP-Laban and Comelec revolves around several critical aspects:

Internet Voting for Overseas Voters:
Legal Basis: PDP-Laban argues that existing laws do not approve online voting. They highlight the Overseas Absentee Voting Act and the Automated Election Law as lacking a legal foundation for online voting through administrative decrees.[1][3]
Petition to the Supreme Court: PDP-Laban filed a petition requesting a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop internet voting for overseas Filipinos during the 2025 midterm elections, asserting that there is no enabling law for such a system.[2][3]
Automated Counting and Internet Connectivity:
Security Concerns: PDP-Laban raises concerns about unauthorized access and backend manipulation when Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) are connected to the internet. They advocate for manual counting to lower these risks.[5]
Prohibition During Voting: The party supports prohibiting ACMs from being connected to the internet during voting hours to prevent potential cyber interference.[5]
Transparency and Accountability:
Right to be Reassured: PDP-Laban stresses the importance of ensuring votes are accounted for accurately. They believe that internet voting and automated counting could compromise assurance, as paper ballots provide physical evidence of voting.[3]

In summary, the main issues stem from the legality of internet voting, security risks related to internet connectivity during automated elections, and maintaining transparency and accountability in the voting process.

The Democratic Party of the Philippines-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), following the local and national elections on May 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, advocates for hand-to-hand vote counting at the precinct level for electoral transparency and compliance.
PDP-Laban has questioned the Commission on Elections (Comelec) about the enforcement of Section 31 of Republic Act No. 9369, which mandates that ballots be read aloud during the vote counting process.
The party has accused Comelec of misrepresenting guidelines on internet connectivity during voting, pointing to public updates regarding Automated Counting Machines (ACMs).
In response to these accusations, COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia stated that the ACMs will not be connected to the internet during voting.
As the debate continues, PDP-Laban's concerns revolve around internet voting for overseas voters, automated counting and internet connectivity, security risks, and maintaining transparency and accountability in the voting process, particularly the importance of ensuring votes are accounted for accurately.