NAMFREL participates in international videoconference on automated elections

NAMFREL participates in international

videoconference on automated elections
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The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections participated today (June 30, 2010) in a videoconference on "Observing Electronic Voting Technologies: Methodology and Its Challenges," organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI). The videoconference was participated in by about 40 Indonesian civil society organizations, with resource persons in Jakarta, Washington, D.C., and Manila. NAMFREL was represented by Secretary General Eric O. Alvia, National Council members Telibert C. Laoc, and Damaso G. Magbual, who is also currently the chairperson of the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL).
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The purpose of the videoconference is for the Indonesian EMOs to learn more about automated elections. The Indonesian election commission is considering the implementation of an automated election system, and reportedly it has already received a proposal from Smartmatic Asia Pacific to consider their system, claiming that it has overcome glitches experienced during the May presidential elections in the Philippines.
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Among the topics asked of NAMFREL during the conference were NAMFREL's observations during, and assessment of the conduct of, the May 2010 automated election, and essential aspects of the automated elections that election monitoring organizations should focus on to be able to assess the integrity of the exercise.
 
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