Voters wait for the VCMs to function before they cast their votes. (CDN PHOTO/MARGARETTE MANAGAYTAY)
ANOTHER defective vote-counting machine was found in polling precinct Cluster #4 (09A-11B) in Poblacion, Pinamungajan town, Cebu.
A voter identified as Delyn Reyes complained why the election personnel were unable to set aside a standby unit to avoid delays in the voting.
VCM tech coordinator Manuel Ang Jr. said there is a designated technician for every five machines.
Cluster #4 DepEd Supervisor Florencia Labang said they were waiting for a back up VCM and a technician to fix the defective unit.
Poll clerk Angela Canete said they asked election personnel for advice and they were told to instruct voters to cast their ballots while they wait for an extra machine to be delivered.
The Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) and election personnel will feed the ballots to the backup VCM. Voters were informed about the technical glitch and asked if they were okay about not inserting the ballots themselves and not seeing the names of the candidates on the voters’ receipts.
They were also told that they can wait until they see for themselves the feeding of the ballots into the VCM. But some voters were impatient and said they don’t want to vote until they see a functioning VCM while others agreed.
Two other defective VCMs were reported in polling precincts in the mountain Barangays of Guimbawian and Punod, Pinamungajan town.