Comelec closer to certification for automated polls with overseas voting source code

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Commission on Elections is one step closer to securing certification for the automated election system after receiving the source code — the human-readable version of the software program — for overseas voting on Monday, March 10.

US firm Pro V&V, which specializes in testing voting systems, conducted a review of the trusted build, or the system to be used for the Overseas Voting and Counting System (OVCS), on Saturday.

Its president and director, Jack Cobb, personally handed over the copy of the source code for the OVCS to Comelec Chairman George Garcia on Monday.

Garcia had previously identified the absence of the source code for the first-ever internet-based overseas voting as the reason Comelec has yet to secure the legally mandated certification, which would confirm that the automated election system is secure and accurate.

The poll body already has the source codes for the automated counting machines and the unbundling of the transmission system. All three will be deposited with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for safekeeping.

Cobb stated that the company is “80% done with all of the testing” and expects to submit a report to the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) - composed of Comelec, the Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology - by mid-April.

The TEC will review the report before issuing the certification.

There has been concern about the lack of certification just over two months before the May 12 midterm polls, with Senator Risa Hontiveros even calling for a joint congressional probe.

Both Cobb and Garcia SAID this year’s process is on track, noting that certifications in previous elections were issued only days before the election.

“Hindi naman para nagmamadali tayo kasi ang importante ‘yung sure, sure tayo tsaka secure. Binilisan mo nga yung mga certification yun pala naman merong nacompromise sa isa sa mga test,” Garcia said.

[Translation: It's not like we're in a hurry because what's important is that we're sure and secure. You rushed through the certifications, and it turns out something was compromised in one of the tests.]