Filipinos use election technology to cast 1.6B votes for 18K positions

Results published in near-real time; 85% published on Election Day

Philippine , Manila –  May 10, 2022 – An estimated 53 million Filipino voters flocked precincts across the country to cast 1.6 billion votes and elect candidates to 18,000 political positions in a landmark election. This was the fifth consecutive automated vote since the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec) began using Smartmatic technology in 2010. Since then, the country has become a regional reference for quality elections.

“The 2022 Philippine general elections is the biggest and the best Philippine elections yet. It holds the distinction of breaking a number of records,” said Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, head of the Steering Committee for 2022 National and Local Elections. “(This was the) fastest transmission ever.”

Philippine authorities deployed some 107,000 Smartmatic Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) in precincts across the country. More than 75% of votes were transmitted within 3 hours of polls closing, flowing swiftly and continuously throughout election night. Results were published online as they were received, allowing election stakeholders to audit results in real time. The vast majority of the races were called that same day – all of this despite the extremely complicated geography (7,000+ islands) and a myriad of communication infrastructure challenges.

As in the past four automated national elections, Smartmatic’s technology powered the voting, tallying and publication processes. It also provided the software that ran the entire automated elections system (AES) and support services and logistics.

“As the automation of elections matures in the Philippines, more and more Filipinos realize how much Comelec’s work has strengthened democracy in the country. This serves as inspiration for us to keep moving forward with our mission of bringing electoral integrity to the world,” said Smartmatic CEO Antonio Mugica.

Smartmatic election technology has drastically improved election administration in the Philippines since it was first implemented in 2010. According to a Pulse Asia survey conducted after the previous national election, 9 in 10 voters want their future elections automated.

The May election was the country’s first during the pandemic, posing challenges to voters, Comelec and Smartmatic personnel on the ground. Turnout, however, exceeded 83%, leading many to hail the election a success.