My previous work in the correctional facilities had seen the transformation from the old prison into a new high tech prison in Singapore within a decade and being part of the work group. I would say it was not smooth sailing all the way sometime with small computer "glitches" to big "Hiccup" that almost bring the house down.
When I first joined the service recording and entering of daily journal was done manually and when the prison decided to incorporate of using computer management systems for journal, tracking in the late 1990s, they embarked on a re-invention that would transform itself from a largely paperwork-based organisation to one that leverages on Information Technology (IT) to achieve operational efficiency. A systems that offering keeping Track of everything and anything in the High Tech Way. they Call it a Paradigm Shift.
THE re-engineering of business processes brought about by the computerized has resulted in a paradigm shift.
Everything and Anything can look very impressive on Paper, no doubt the infrastructure was robust with the latest money can buy automatic recovery server,UPS power backup systems, state of the arts systems, technical sound IT technical team and contingency failure plan. However with all this high tech tools boil down to one small tiny random speck of unpredictable element and also enough variation, permutation to keep things interesting an and essential an unpredictability environment and I called it the human factor that innovate for the good or worst.
I recalled in the team an officer, he used to be the most experienced alert officer on the team when at the gate nothing escape his eagle sharp eye and sixth sense detection in the prison. However, when they decided to implement the computer systems at the security gate, for a third generation of Singaporean using a computer is 2nd nature, but for those who were born in the 50,60 or 70 using the keyboard is a mammoth task of struggling and typing at a speed of 10 words a minutes and a hard time finding and position the mouse cursor on the screens it can be hell! Obviously, when the officer at the PC the operation ability dropped tremendously that almost anything can escape detection. This was a classic reality on the ground provide the latest tool without the proper skill training. A case of sight oversight. Like the computerized election can be a "Black swan" theory in the making. Any IT initiative project in big scale should Counter-balance complexity with simplicity.
Posted by Mery Jane
Mery Jane a 2nd yr. college student at NORSU taking up the course Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. I am a simple person with a big ambition in life.I hate people who are plastic and liers because for me the truth counts. I love to surf in the internet because by doing it I can have friends and learn things
Computerized Election in the Philippines
A Technical Research Paper Presented to: Mister Ralph A. Cardeño M.A (English) Department of English and Literature Negros Oriental State University
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement Of the Course Requirements In English 122 (Technical Writing and Reporting)
Mary Jane B. Zerna (TTH 7-8:30)
I. Introduction
It is a proven fact that during Philippine elections a lot of comments occur. The kind of election here in the Philippines is very different from the others. We were astonished to the US presidential election last year which Barack Obama won. It was an astonishing event that the world has ever seen. But, what made us astonished is that it took only few hours to proclaim the next president of the most powerful nation in the world. Polls were computerized, everything was so organized. Now it made us think that if computerized voting system is being forwarded for approval in the Philippines for the 2010 election. To us, it will be a nice move by the government to gain back the trust of the nation.
Every election in the Philippines was seemed to be dirty and bloody. And with that computerized voting scheme, the upcoming election won’t repeat what happened to the previous years. Votes back them were counted manually by underpaid public school teachers. And when evening comes, the next day, people would hear in news that a precinct staff was murdered and the ballot box stolen. This is actually so common here. And even before the election a candidate would be in the news, ambushed, murdered and forced to step down. That is how dirty politics here.
Now back to the computerized election, it is a very great idea to keep the election clean. We are now living in a high technology world and it is about time that the country makes use of high-tech equipment to significantly reduce the many problems that Philippine’s suffered during election.
Statement of the problem
1. What is a computerized election system?
2. When was the first computerized election used in the Philippines?
3. What is the difference between a manual and computerized election?
4. What are the three methods of voting?
5. How does a computerized election work?
6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a computerized election?
Objective of the study
1. To inform the students on what is a computerized election system.
2. To know what is the difference and which is better between manual and
computerized election.
3. To know how it would lessen the burden during Philippine election.
4. To know the advantages and disadvantages of computerized election.
5. To know how computerized election work.
Importance of the study
Every election in the Philippine was seemed to be dirty and bloody. The kind of election we don’t want to, for it is now the time to change the level of voting here in the Philippines. Computerized election could be a turning point for the country to be successful in many elections to come.
This study will prove on how computerized election could help the kind of election, that Philippine has. In addition, this study can show the different reasons why computerized election is important to the country. However, this study could also show the disadvantages of using computerized election.
The main purpose of this study is to inform every voter on how computerized election helps the kind of election that Philippine has.
Review of Related Literature
A. Definition of computerized election
Computerized election system is defined as vote counting process using electronic devices such as computers. According to an act authorizing the Commission on Elections, they should conduct a nationwide demonstration of a computerized election system and pilot-test it in March 1996 election in the ARMM and for other purposes (http://www.COMELEC.com).
A. Difference between manual and computerized election
To differentiate manual from computerized election, let us first define manual election. Manual election is defined as a system that count votes using paper audits stored by a ballot box. In addition, manual election usually takes a long time before proclaiming the winning candidate. It is a time consuming system, for it takes more than a month before the results are transmitted to the COMELEC. Lastly, manual election is counted by underpaid public school teachers, while computerized election is a system that counting and voting process is done by using a sufficient installed program into the computers. Unlike manual election, computerized election is easy and fast for the transmission of results is done by computers. In addition, computerized election usually takes a short period of time before proclaiming the winning candidate.
B. History of Computerized Election
1. The first computerized election happened during the presidential election of George W. Bush last November 02, 2004. Computerized voting machines were used to count the majority of the votes which the machines were built for and programmed by the companies such as DIEBOLD and ES&S tabulated the results in record time, showing, just minutes after the polls closed. “This is an extraordinary achievement in grass-roots politics”, said by some political analyst (http://www.confusionroad.com/article.php?).
2. Despite threats of postponement and intermittent skirmishers between rebel and government troops, the country’s first computerized election has been conducted smoothly-though only in some parts of the troubled Mindanao region. The automated polls proceeded with minor problems on August 11, 20008, with about 85 percent of 10.5 million registered voters casting their vote, according to election officials. The landmark election was confined within the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), an aggregation of areas n the southern island populated mostly by Muslim inhabitants. The Philippine government spent some 600 million pesos in the computerized election which served as a test-pilot for the country’s general election in 2010. The COMELEC said, a few voting machines malfunctioned during the election but these were fixed promptly by the local contractors and it is declared a successful election. The COMELEC used two electronic voting systems for the polls: DRE (Direct Recording Electronics) system for the province of Maguindanao, and OMR (Optical Mark Reader) technology for the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Shariff Kabunsuan and Lanao del Sur. COMELEC spokesperson James Jimenez said in a blog post that ARMM poll was a significant milestone in the country’s election reform, noting that voters showed enthusiasm in using automated voting machines amid security problems. In general, the first computerized election in the Philippines was successful and declared a milestone (http://www.completefirst.com)
II. Three methods to vote
A. Paper ballots are still used as the primary way f voting in a number of countries. Voters mark their ballot by hand with an indelible marker (a marker that cannot be erased) or pen and place their finished ballot in a ballot box. Local election officials then count the votes by hand.
B. Optical Scan Voting Systems enable votes to mark their choices on pre-printed ballots by either connecting “arrows”, or filling in “bubbles” next to the candidates’ names. The paper ballot is then counts the married “bubbles” or “arrows” on each ballot and automatically computes the total of each candidate and/or issue.
C. DRE’s (Direct Record Electronic System) enable voters to record their choices electronically directly into the machine. There are several types of DRE’s (some have a dial while others use a touch screen) but, essentially they all enable voters to move back and forth between screens (ballot pages) to select the candidates and/or issues to whom they wish to vote. Once a voter has made his or her choices, the DRE provides a summary screen that presents those choices and gives the voter the ability to go back and make any changes before the pressing the “vote” or “cast ballot” button. One of the benefits of a DRE System is that prevents “over voting” that is, it stops the voter from selecting two candidates or options in a race were only one is allowed. As well a DRE gives the voter an opportunity to correct “under voting” or when he/she fails to select any candidate or option in race.
III. Process of computerized election
A. The validation system process
The commission shall take such steps as many are necessary for the security and implementation of system promulgate for of computerized election. The commission shall take the security of the voters and the votes. Votes shall take the validation system to ensure the requirement in voting in a computer machine.
There are two factors to consider being valid for voting:
1. ID System
It is the process that allow voters to have its ID card to make sure that
the voter is valid. It could also be a proof that the voter is registered and legal to vote.
2. Scanning
It is the process that computers check the identification of the voter to ensure the validation of the registered voter. Scanning can be considered as a double checker process, for it double the information of the voter.
A. The tabulation process
Tabulation process deals with the counting of the votes and the process of the transmission of the results. These include the consultation/canvassing and transmission of results.
Two steps to consider in tabulating process:
1. The first step
On election night at the central tabulation center, the memory card from each precinct as ballot box is entered into a computer. This computer takes the records of each ballot from the memory card and sorts them by precinct into separate files, one each for city, council, school committee and ballot question. The complete ballot files for each race or question are then copied unto a computer disk. Each ballot record consists of the candidates selected by the voter and the order in which they were ranked.
2. The second step
The computer disk with the ballot files is installed in a second computer. This computer contains the software which contains the ballots. The software has been programmed to follow the “Cambridge rules”. By computer, the same process formerly carried out manually by more than a hundred counters over the course of a week is conducted in a matter of seconds by the electronic sorting, counting and transfer of votes.
A. Election result process
An “unofficial first count of number one votes of each candidate for city council and school committee will be available on election night within minutes of receipt of the memory card from the last reporting precinct. This count is referred to as “unofficial” because it does not contain all ballots. The complete ballots records are then copied and read into the tabulation software were they are tallied. The software produces an “unofficial first count” and then proceeds to distribute surplus and eliminate candidates with the least number of votes until all seats have been filled, the election commissioners declare the results.
IV. Advantages and Disadvantages of computerized election
A. Advantages of computerized election
1. Initial recording of voter information
Initial records of voter are stored to the program that is use for the voting process. With the help of computers, information of the voters can be easily traced by the Comelec official.
2. Secure storage of votes
Through computers, the security of votes has been keep and protected for votes were safety saved by a memory card. This memory card can’t be deleted easily by anyone. With the help of the machine the votes are secured and the retrieval process can be done easy and fast.
3. Maintaining the continuous list
The continuous list of the voter’s information was maintained, for the secure list of voters information was saved by the computers.
4. Printing copies of preliminary voter’s list
The printing copies of preliminary voter’s list can be given directly to the area where voter’s can vote. There would be an easy access for the voter’s and without any delays the list can be shown to the voters.
5. Data entry to revise the preliminary voter’s list
The preliminary voter’s list can be revise easily if ever there is a need for revision of the voter’s list.
6. Maintaining record of the materials inventory
The records of the materials inventory can be save and edited, with the help of the programs installed to the computers.
7. Printing copies of the final voters list
The final copy of the voters list can be printed easily and fast to be given right away to the area it is assign.
8. General record keeping and maintenance
The computer can keep records and maintenance safety by using the right program that protects the general records of the voters and the votes.
9. Identifying duplicate registrations
The computer can detect duplicate registration for the voters information is saved by the computers.
10. Producing statistics on voter registration
The computer helps producing statistics on voter by geographic area, as well as by gender, age, etc.
11. Low cost and without wasting paper
The computer helps in not wasting too much of paper, for the format of voting is done by computer. In addition, the cost of the election can be minimize for the computers counts votes easy and fast.
12. Keeping an audit trail of the changes made to each voter record.
The audit trail of the changes made to each voter record can be quickly. For example, by whom a change was made, on the basis of what source information, what data were changed, which record attributes were affected.
13. Easy and Fast voting
With computerized voting you would have several ways to vote. If you don’t have a computer you would go to the place where you vote how and vote on the computers provided you to vote on. Voting at the polls will be as easy as it ever was, even easier. The computers at the polls will be set up easy to use. Within minutes after the polls close the computer totals the votes and the winner is displayed. Information is instantly available about what the totals were to each area. No waiting into the night for the results to be counted. The computers count it all up instantly.
B. Disadvantages of computerized election
1. Fraud
If wrong results can occur accidentally, they can also happen intentionally. Rigging has been suspected in various elections, but law suits have been unsuccessful. In many other cases, fraud could easily have taken place. For many years in Philippines, manual system overrides were necessary to compute the processing of no computerized precincts. With the adoption of computerized election the more tampering can occur. Computerized elections are being run or considered but it does not answer the problem of cheating during election.
2. Erroneous results
Computer-related error occurs with alarming frequency in elections. Computerized elections can cause erroneous results for there is a possibility to attribute “human error” and not “computer error”, and were presumably due to operators and hot programmers; however in the absence of dependable accountability, who can tell? Existing Standards for designing, testing, certifying, and operating computerized vote-counting system are inadequate and voluntary, and provide few hard constraints, almost no accountability and no independent expert evaluations.
3. Privacy and confidentiality
The transparency of voting can cause detection by those who want to cheat. The confidentiality of the votes won’t be confidential anymore, for the results are done publicity.
4. Risk of theft
Computerized elections can be a risk of theft, especially to those desperate candidates who can hire an expert. Hacking can be a problem in computerized election for there is a possibility in manipulating the votes.
5. Cost
The cost of computerized election is expensive, that is why it is difficult for the country.
V. Conclusion
Providing sufficient measures for computerized election we therefore conclude that:
1. Computerized election is a great idea to keep the election clean.
2. Computerized election is an opportunity to promote good, quality and clean voting process.
3. Computerized election will promote easy and fast voting unlike manual system.
4. Computerized election is a sufficient system to use in voting and counting process.
5. Computerized election helps eliminating manipulation of votes.
6. Computerized election will help in processing votes easy and fast.
7. Computerized election has more advantages than disadvantages.
8. Computerized election has disadvantages in conducting election.
9. Computerized election won’t be sufficient if it will mis handled.
10. Computerized election in the Philippines will change the way of votinng process to a great way.
VII. Recommendation
Provide by sufficient study of computerized election we recommend that:
1. Computerized should be implemented, to change the way of voting process.
2. Computerized election should be approved to eliminate election problems.
3. Computerized election should be promoted to assure the quality of voting.
4. Computerized election should be adopted to gain back the respect of the nation.
5. Computerized election should be implemented to end up the suffering in manual election.
6. Computerized election would stop manipulating of votes.
7. Computerized eletion system should be implemented to acquire sufficient program of voting.
8. Computerized election should be implemented for it will lessen the cost of election.
9. Computerized election should be implemented for it will make voting easy and fast.
10. Computerized election should be implemented, for it will benefit the nation into a new and
Better election process.
Works Cited
Election Commission.Available from: http://www/cambridgema.gov/election/computerized_tabulation.cfm.Accessed: [ January 22, 2009]
Risk in Computerized Election. Available from: http://www.notablrsoftware.com/ Papers/ RiskPGN.html.Accessed: [January 26, 2009]
Future News Division. Available from:http://www.confusionroad.com/article.php? page_function=display_article&article_id=261.Accessed: [January 26, 2009]
Computerized Internet Voting Better than Paper Ballots. Available from: http://www.perkel.com/politics/ivote.htm.Accessed: [January 22, 2009]
Meet Your Voting Machine. Available from: http://meetyourvotingmachine.com. Accessed: [January 24, 2009]
Commission on Elections. Available from: http:// COMELEC. Com. Accessed from: [January 26, 2009]
Advantages and Disadvantages of Automation. Available from: http://www.votingmachines.procom.org/viewsource.asp?resourceID=276. Accessed fron: [January 26, 2009]
Philippines Complete First Computerized Polls. Available from:http://www.completefirst.com. Accessed: [February 01, 2009]
Wonder How to Vote. Available from:http://www.wonderhowto.com/ how-to-vote/ by-grape. Accessed: [February 01, 2009]
Computerized Project Management [VHS]
