Comelec: ‘We tap ACMs for more transparent 2025 polls’

By Jason B. Neola

CANAMAN, Camarines Sur --- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will open voting precincts earlier on May 12, 2025 for persons with disability (PWDs), senior citizens, and heavily pregnant women to ensure that members of vulnerable sectors are given ample time and convenience to cast their votes ahead of the general public.

This was announced during an election forum held at the Jaime’s Hall of the Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation in Barangay Baras, where Comelec Commissioner Nelson Celis of the Education and Information Department vowed that the upcoming national and local polls will be the most transparent elections the country has ever seen.

“None, not even a single vote, will be left behind as every vote will be counted,” Celis assured the audience in the jam-packed hall, emphasizing the poll body’s commitment to electoral integrity. Rating the transparency level of the forthcoming polls at a full 10 out of 10, Celis said that Filipinos can expect a credible and verifiable electoral process.

The Comelec reported that 69,673,655 registered voters are expected to troop to various precincts nationwide on May 12. Of this number, a significant 63 percent—or around 47.81 million—are composed of Generation Z and millennial voters, highlighting the strong participation of younger demographics in shaping the country’s future.

To further bolster public trust in the electoral process, the Comelec has replaced its previous Smartmatic vote-counting machines with more advanced Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) developed by MIRU.

These machines feature a hybrid voting system that combines automated ballot counting with manual verification, allowing election boards and poll watchers to manually cross-check votes for greater transparency.

The MIRU ACMs are equipped with an optical mark reader, direct recording electronic capability, a 14-inch touchscreen, over 14 hours of battery life, automatic receipt cutting, a built-in voter receipt compartment, and a faster scanning speed—all designed to ensure speed, accuracy, and auditability in the canvassing of votes from the precinct to national level.

The Center for People Empowerment in Governance, Inc. noted that the government, through the Comelec, has prioritized verifiability and accountability in the 2025 polls, with each MIRU machine ensuring transparent results and a more secure voting experience.

With upgraded technology, increased accessibility for vulnerable sectors, and a renewed focus on electoral integrity, the Comelec hopes to inspire greater public confidence and participation in this year’s elections.