Comelec personnel test vote counting machines at the Pasong Tamo Elementary School in Quezon City on October 25, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file

Marilyn Cahatol

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174693806515717143831640041714383164170 (1).jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Comelec personnel test vote counting machines at the Pasong Tamo Elementary School in Quezon City on October 25, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Commission on Elections assured voters that no one else could touch their ballot before feeding it to the automated counting machine (ACM).</p><p>The assurance followed claims that someone else could supposedly fill the empty positions if a voter opts to undervote or choose fewer than the  maximum number of candidates. </p><p>“Imposible po iyan dahil tayo pong botante ang magfe-feed ng balota, kumpleto man ‘yan o hindi, doon po sa ACM. Wala pong ibang makakahawak niyan,” Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco told Teleradyo Serbisyo on Friday. .  </p><p>(That is impossible because the voter will feed the ballot into the ACM, whether it is complete or not. No one else will touch it.) </p><p>While overvoting—or voting for candidates more than the maximum—will invalidate the votes, Laudiangco said undervoting would not.  </p><p>Voters also have the right to abstain—or not fill a position—if they prefer. </p><p>To ease voters’ anxiety, Laudiangco said voters can verify their votes through the ACM screen, as well as the receipt the machine will release upon submitting their ballots.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/2/9-000-cops-ready-to-be-assigned-to-special-electoral-boards-on-may-12-comelec-1531">9,000 cops ready to be assigned to special electoral boards on May 12: Comelec</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;PREPARE YOUR CHEAT SHEET&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>It is best to come on election day ready by preparing a “cheat sheet,” Laudiangco advised.  </p><p>He said candidates run as individuals, thus choosing bets from different parties is completely allowed.  </p><p>Comelec has uploaded a ballot face template on its website, publicly available and customized per municipality, to help voters prepare their cheat sheet. This includes the candidates’ corresponding numbers up to the local race.  </p><p>The Comelec spokesperson reminded candidates that distribution of sample ballots is prohibited starting Sunday, May 11, together with other forms of campaigning.  </p><p>The spokesperson said the commission was ready to combat the spread of mis- and disinformation on the election day through their real-person “keyboard warriors” who will provide immediate information for those with queries.  </p><p>On the day of the election, Laudiangco reminded voters that taking a photo inside the voting precincts, especially of the ballots, is prohibited.</p><p>The results from all voting processes—local ACM, international ACM, absentee voting and internet voting—will be posted on the website so the public can monitor real-time counting, said the spokesperson.  </p><p>The National Citizens&#x27; Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the media will also be releasing unofficial election results. </p><p>This, however, said Laudiangco, should not be confused with the official count.  </p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X2MAfNQobwM?si=tuw3aSeFg8s0-f5F" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The Commission on Elections assured voters that no one else could touch their ballot before feeding it to the automated counting machine (ACM).</p>

The Commission on Elections assured voters that no one else could touch their ballot before feeding it to the automated counting machine (ACM).

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Comelec says ballots cannot be tampered, even with undervotes

Comelec says ballots cannot be tampered, even with undervotes

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 11, 2025 12:53 PM PHT

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