How Does the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) Works

The next Philippine elections slated this may will be historic, since for the first time ever Filipinos will be using automated voting process to determine their future leaders. But how this machine really works?

Each clustered precincts is installed with PCOS (ballot-based voting and a counting machine). During the Election Day, the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI), consisting of three teachers, switches it on employing a security key. Security pins are used to assure that there is no entry or vote in the machine’s memory or to configure the machine. The specially marked ballot fed into the machine will be scan. Once the polling is over though, the votes will be counted by the machines and the election returns will be printed.

Then a cable is connected to the machine to allow electronic transmission of election reports to the Comelec Central Server and Board of Canvasser. Each of the machines has back-up battery to allow smooth operation even when there is a power outage.

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1. uberVU - social comments — February 8, 2010 @ 12:25 pm