Integrity of PCOS Machines

I attended a lecture on the automated election system, held on January 26, 2010 at the Abelardo Hall of the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, initiated by the Aquino-Roxas Bantay Balota (ARBB).

Among the battery of issues that i raised in that forum is, first, about the integrity of the software that was programmed in the counting of votes. I couldn't help but compare the principle to a taxi meter where there is an automatic flag-down rate, the moment it is switched on and continue to accumulate every few meters of the road. In comparison, the PCOS (Precinct Count Optical Scan)machine might also have a "flag-down rate", but which might only be activated at the end of the process, or during the counting, or storing of data or transmission for canvassing. There is a widespread speculation or fear that the PCOS machine could be factory pre-programmed, such that for every 100 votes or ballots cast, 20 goes automatically counted to a favored candidate, then stored into a small memory card, which data is highly vulnerable to corruption once it gets into dangerous human hands.

Second,it was explained, that when a particular PCOS machine bogs down, it's memory card shall be ejected and transported and fed to another PCOS machine in any precinct and location, where the interrupted process of counting and transmission to the Board of Canvassers is to be continued.

Thus, it can be construed that a memory card from Maguindanao is readable and could be processed by another machine in Manila, and vice-versa! While in transit, can a memory card be switched with another one that might have been loaded with data that are more pleasant and favorable to the perpetrators; and, perhaps, even re-feed the same loaded memory card to other machines for as many times as they want?

Third, transmitted data from a PCOS machine is received by a gadget as simple as a laptop. Only the BOC could view whatever is received and displayed in the small monitor of the laptop. Not the watchers; not the public! Why not attach a projector to the laptop, so the public may know what's going on during the canvassing in the first level!What they see in the first level will be their basis for comparison in the next canvassing level and up to the last, which is either the COMELEC or the House of Representatives

Fourth, why thermal paper in the printing returns? Data in thermal papers, as in lotto tickets, cash register receipts, and facsimile (fax) machines fade after awhile, even if hermetically sealed from natural elements. Once it fades, there is no more basis for audit. Moreover, once the function of one machine has been accomplished, all data are eternally erased. Hard copies from ordinary printers and ordinary papers last for even 99 years!

If that's the case, the "dagdag-bawas" phenomenon is still alive and kicking!

Don't get mad, please! Don't insult! Just respond! It's a speculation that's as good as real!