Ched Rick Gatchalian

Article (news)

'Dirt' detected in ACM scanner temporarily delays voting in Bulacan school

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<p>An issue with an automated counting machine (ACM) at Tabang Elementary School in Guiguinto, Bulacan caused delays in voting on Monday morning, forcing many senior citizens to wait longer in line, much to their dismay.</p><p>An elderly lady waited more than two hours, despite getting to the precinct at around 5:30 a.m. to avail of the early voting program for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women.</p><p>“7:30 na, andito pa rin kami. Kaya yung iba natatamad ang bumoto kasi ang bagal… Tapos ang ginawa nila kasi, kumuha ng regular. Diba dapat senior muna?” she complained.</p><p>Others complained about the heat and knee pain from having to stand so long. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/12/philippines-heads-to-polls-with-marcos-duterte-feud-centre-stage-0904">Sweltering Philippines votes with Marcos-Duterte feud center stage</a></div><p>The Electoral Board Chairman of Precinct No. 61, Eleanor Manahan, explained that a ballot was initially rejected by the ACM after it supposedly detected some dirt.</p><p>“Parang mga white na something, parang alikabok lang siya,” said Manahan.</p><p>According to Manahan, when they found no signs of dirt on the voter’s ballot, they decided to wipe the scanner of the ACM.</p><p>&quot;(Pinaalam) naman namin sa mga watchers na bubuksan namin yung machine kasi lilinisin. After naman nung cleaning is naging maayos na ulit siya… Pinasa namin ulit (yung ballot), binasa na siya,” she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/12/comelec-convenes-as-board-of-canvassers-for-halalan-2025-1613">Comelec convenes as board of canvassers for Halalan 2025</a></div><p>Three other ballots in that precinct were rejected due to prohibited ink markings, specifically on the ballot’s QR code and in the black lines or margin of the ballot. </p><p>These voters were not given another ballot.</p><p>“Sayang nga raw yung pinila nila dahil hindi counted yung kanilang vote,” said Manahan.</p><p>“Kapag fault ng botante, hindi papalitan yung balota… Lagi kong sinasabi sa lahat ng pumapasok na bumoboto na paki-ingatan yung balota dahil kapag nadumihan or something na may nangyari, nabasa… nire-reject na talaga siya nung machine,” she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/12/abs-cbn-launches-portal-to-view-partial-unofficial-result-of-halalan-2025-1508">Where to view partial, unofficial 2025 election results</a></div><div><strong>Filipinos worldwide can also stay updated on election-related news and results via the</strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/halalan-2025"><strong> “Halalan” page on ABS-CBN.com.</strong></a></div><div><iframe width="1250" height="703" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nhsW4jHDLiE" title="Halalan 2025: The ABS-CBN Special Marathon Coverage of the 2025 Philippine Elections" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>An issue with an automated counting machine (ACM) at Tabang Elementary School in Guiguinto, Bulacan caused delays in voting on Monday morning, forcing many senior citizens to wait longer in line, much to their dismay.</p>

An issue with an automated counting machine (ACM) at Tabang Elementary School in Guiguinto, Bulacan caused delays in voting on Monday morning, forcing many senior citizens to wait longer in line, much to their dismay.

'Dirt' detected in ACM scanner temporarily delays voting at Bulacan school

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'Dirt' detected in ACM scanner temporarily delays voting at Bulacan school

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 12, 2025 04:45 PM PHT

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