FIRST EVER AUTOMATED ARMM ELECTIONS PEACEFUL,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 001930 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2009 TAGS: PTER MOPS PINS PGOV PHUM RP SUBJECT: FIRST EVER AUTOMATED ARMM ELECTIONS PEACEFUL, EFFICIENT REF: MANILA 1696 (LOCAL ELECTIONS IN MUSLIM MINDANAO IMPACT PEACE PROCESS) Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Thanks to new automated voting procedures, the regional elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) August 11 turned out more peaceful, clean, and efficient than previous polls and an estimated 60 percent of the 1.5 million registered voters turned out to cast their votes. Independent commentators noted the ease brought about by full automation of the voting and counting processes, notwithstanding technical glitches that were effectively overcome. Poll results will be announced late on August 12 or August 13, though few doubt that incumbent Governor Zaldy Ampatuan will win reelection. Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Jose Melo reported that the 60 percent voter turnout exceeded the expected average of 30-40 percent in previous elections and, in a clear break from the past, there was only one election-related incident of violence reported. While the ARMM elections served as a good dress rehearsal for the technical aspects of running an automated national election and provided COMELEC an excellent idea of the problems and issues the Philippines is likely to face in 2010, these elections provided little insight on whether automation will reduce vote buying and other irregularities, as the outcome has never been in question given the Ampatuan clan's dominance of ARMM politics. END SUMMARY. AUTOMATION A "SMASHING SUCCESS" -------------- ¶2. (U) Initial commentary on the effectiveness of automation was entirely positive, both from government officials and civil society. Senator Richard Gordon, the chair of the electoral reforms committee in the Senate, called the pilot exercise in fully automated elections a "smashing success" that augured well for the 2010 presidential elections. Electoral reform advocate Henrietta de Villa, who heads the Church-based poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, something of an institution in Philippine elections, called the ARMM elections a "significant improvement" over previous elections and expressed optimism that the country was "on the road to more credible and peaceful elections." ISOLATED INCIDENTS MAR POLLS -------------- ¶3. (U) COMELEC reported that there were isolated incidents that marred the polls. A day prior to the elections, Muslim insurgents attempted to confiscate election paraphernalia and disrupt the polls in Lamitan City, Basilan Province, but were effectively foiled by the military, leaving one rebel dead. In two villages in Sumisip town, also in Basilan Province, unidentified armed men snatched ballot boxes from election officers who were on their way to the polling precincts. COMELEC, which declared a failure of elections in the two villages with a total of 1,896 voters, may yet call for special elections there, depending on the town's election results. A second case of ballot snatching was reported in Barira town, Maguindanao province, but authorities were able to recover the boxes and elections pushed through. Voting in 18 polling precincts in Akbar town, also in Basilan, was delayed after election officers refused to work following a shoot-out in the area. COMELEC was forced to deputize several policemen and civil servants to act as election officers. There were also isolated reports of vote-buying in Basilan. ADDRESSING TECHNICAL GLITCHES -------------- ¶4. (U) Anticipating technical glitches, COMELEC and technology providers were quick to troubleshoot problems encountered in some voting and canvassing centers. Stand-by generators quickly solved the power outages, particularly in Sulu province. Also, the election officers manning the polling precincts readily assisted voters who were not familiar with the new voting system. COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) The relatively high turnout for these first-ever MANILA 00001930 002 OF 002 automated elections was a very positive result. Voters appeared to like the new technology and seemed to find it easy to use. The "curiosity factor" may also have encouraged many people who might otherwise have stayed home to come out and vote. According to observers, voting procedures at precincts were implemented more or less according to established rules, but there were some isolated unconfirmed reports of vote buying, vote tampering, and voters brought in to vote from other precincts. While the elections served as a good dress rehearsal for the technical aspects of running an automated national election and provided COMELEC an excellent idea of the problems and issues the Philippines is likely to face in 2010, these elections provided little insight on whether automation will help reduce vote buying, vote tampering, and other irregularities. The outcome of the elections has never been in question given the Ampatuan clan's dominance of ARMM elections. KENNEY