By Tom S. Noda
Computerworld Philippines
October 28, 2009

Although strictly required in the newly automated system of voting next year, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced that voters, who haven’t had their biometrics captured, can still vote.

Biometrics is a technology used to identify a person via voice or fingerprints, wherein such features of a person can serve as his or her own unique virtual signatures.

“Registered voters who haven’t had their biometrics captured need not panic,” said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez. “They can still vote in 2010.”

Jimenez made the announcement on Wednesday (Oct. 28) to correct earlier news reports that said voters whose biometrics were not captured during their registration will not be allowed to cast their votes.

He explained that more than half of the total 45 million-plus registered voters have yet to submit their biometrics using the poll body’s data capturing machines.

“So long as your name is included in the voters list, you will be allowed to vote,” Jimenez stressed, adding voters’ identification cards (IDs) is also not a requirement on Election Day.

Biometrics technology is now being utilized by the government particularly by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) department through its GSIS Voice Activated Processing System or G-VAPS – a voice biometrics service wherein a person’s voice becomes his virtual signature similar to fingerprints, hair strand or eye iris recognition.

Only recently, Comelec signed a Php1.6 billion biometrics project contract with Unison Joint Venture for the poll body’s “Cleanse the Voters’ List” (CVL) project to be applied for the 2013 automated local elections.

Comelec’s CVL project has the following four components: Validation of existing registration records using biometrics and data capture system; online data submission and synchronization system; automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS); matching and AFIS server applications; and the Voter ID cards generation.

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