Numerous incidents involving malfunctioning automated counting machines (ACMs) were reported in Metro Manila and nearby provinces during the first five hours of voting on election day.
As of 9:30 a.m., most verified reports related to ACM errors, with some voters experiencing delays of one hour or more due to machine malfunctions.
Poll watchdogs Vote Report Philippines and Kontra Daya noted several issues with the ACMs, including paper jams and problems with over-voting or rejected ballots.
“We also received reports of ink “smudging” on ballots when inserted into the machine, as well as complications arising from the machine’s overly sensitive scanner, resulting in cases of over-voting,” they stated.
In Laguna, election officers took over an hour to replace a faulty ACM at Mamatid Elementary School in Cabuyao. They apologized to voters waiting in long lines and explained the situation regarding the machine’s malfunction.
There were also reports of long wait times in the priority lane for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Some voters in Cabuyao also expressed uncertainty about the number of party-list votes they were allowed to cast.
In Taguig City, voters faced challenges in locating their names and were confused about the schools and polling precincts assigned to them. At least 20 defective ACMs were reported at Tenement Elementary School.
Additionally, the poll watchdog documented incidents of red-tagging and non-compliance with procedures by the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI).
Reports of procedural violations included preventing poll watchers from taking videos or photos and failing to provide ballot secrecy folders to voters.
The group also received reports of vote buying, disenfranchisement of voters, fake ballots, and illegal campaigning.
They urged the public to remain vigilant and continue reporting any instances of fraud or anomalies.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include additional details.