by Jone Manalo, Trisha Anne Segumban, and Yahya Ibrahim Yusop

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) recorded its fastest-ever transmission of election results from the recent midterm national and local elections on May 12.


In a press conference, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia emphasized this breakthrough, ensuring that the partial and unofficial results of the election could be available an hour after the voting hours.

However, Garcia clarified that only canvassing bodies are authorized to release official election results, following concerns over media access.

“Hindi po pwede kami maglabas kasi ang official results ay kapag [naka-]dumaan sa canvassing bodies[:] dumaan sa municipal board, city board, provincial board, at tsaka sa ibang district boards, hanggang sa pumunta sa National Board of Canvassers,” he said.

Garcia credited the faster process to technological upgrades in the voting machines, allowing for quicker canvassing and result consolidation.

He said final proclamations are expected within days, faster than in the 2022 elections, which faced delays.

Official results for senators and party-list groups may take around four to eight days, respectively, marking an improvement from the previous election cycle.

He reported that 311 vote-counting machines (VCMs) had to be replaced out of the 16,000 contingency units, a significant decrease compared to the 2,500 replacements during the 2022 elections.

“In all fairness, 311 lang ang napalitan natin ngayon, kumpara sa 2,500 noong 2022 elections,” he stated, emphasizing significant improvement in machine performance.

Among the reported defects were 15 Automated Counting Machines (ACMs), 13 with damaged covers, 77 with scanner issues, and 11 with malfunctioning screens.

Other issues included five ballot-related defects, eight manual audit errors, two operational concerns, and one procedural error.

Garcia also reported 60 thermal cutter defects, 35 issues with thermal paper, and 73 faulty thermal printers.

Comelec also recorded 10 faulty USB devices and one smart card-related issue.

Garcia clarified that allegations of mismatched vote receipts and ballots, saying, “Wala po kaming evidence or proof on that kasi napakataas yung posibilidad na nakalimutan nila.”

He also assured that no failure of the election had been declared due to missing materials, absent board members, or election-related violence.

In one precinct in Tagbilaran, Bohol, some ballots were missing party-list names, but Garcia clarified, “Ang alam po atin ay may tatlong balota lang na nakita sa presinto na walang party-list sa likod,” assuring that the issue would not affect the results due to the availability of extra ballots.

Garcia explained that unclear timing marks during printing may sometimes prevent machines from reading ballots correctly.

In Abra, he confirmed that watchers caught shading ballots were removed and are now facing charges.

“Pinatanggal namin ang watchers na sangkot at pinakakasuhan na namin ng election offense,” he said, clarifying that only electoral board members may assist voters when necessary.