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King Prajadhipok’s Institute 121

automated elections, the rollout and nationwide implementation of
an automated election system (AES) was a success because its novelty

generated high voter curiosity and enthusiasm to vote. The speed and
accuracy in vote counting, transmission, and canvassing translated into
higher levels of confidence among the electorate in the election results

and in the COMELEC. Although numerous issues and criticisms were
raised by election watchdogs and CSOs regarding the implementation

of the AES, the determination displayed by COMELEC and its leadership
enabled the mobilization of internal support (among COMELEC staff and
volunteer teachers serving as members of the Board of Election Inspectors

and Board of Canvassers at the barangay, municipal/city, and provincial
levels) and external support from CSO networks that led to the overall

success of the AES. To complement the AES, the COMELEC subsequently
implemented the Voter Biometric Registration (biometric capturing
of digital thumbprint and signature of voter during registration, which

increased voter verification ability of BEIs during election day), and made
its voter databases publicly accessible via the Precinct Finder (http://

www.comelec.gov.ph/?r=2016NLE/precinct_finder) and Post Finder (http://
www.comelec.gov.ph/?r=OverseasVoting/PostFinder) that facilitated the
online checking of voter registration status and polling precinct locations

in the country and overseas.

The Philippine case shows that investment in election

automation pays off, with the AES introducing a more efficient voting
system and heightened process security/ safeguards, and triggering

institutional changes and arrangements that correspond to the requirements
and demands of the new system. It is important, however, as gleaned
from the COMELEC’s implementation experience, that the IEC: