Press Release
May 14, 2019

Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on reports that up to 600 vote-counting machines were replaced

I am extremely alarmed and disappointed over reports that some 400 to 600 vote-counting machines (VCMs) were replaced in this year's midterm elections. This is said to be 3 times more than those replaced in 2016. This resulted in the disenfranchisement of a still undertermined number of voters and the severe incovenience of many citizens in different parts of the country.

In the interest of transparency and the credibility of the elections, I call on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to fully explain the reasons behind these malfunctions and disclose the number of voters disenfrachised as a result of this setback. This is our fourth automated elections. Mishaps like this, especially those that deprive our people of the right to suffrage, are unacceptable.

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