HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

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1999

Preparation for a Nationwide Modernized Election in 2001

      In January, test ballots were prepared for the authorized testing of the machines by DOST which took place in February. By this time, the COMELEC again had another change in leadership with Chairman Bernardo Pardo being promoted to the Supreme Court as one of the Associate Justices. He was replaced by then Chairperson Harriet Demetriou.

      After four days of testing, the testing team of DOST recommended for the suspension of the same due to some technical problems with the machines that were encountered during the test, which were brought about by the fact that the machines were directly brought to the DOST from the COMELEC's storage room without undergoing maintenance procedures, a prerequisite prior to effective running of the machines. AIS, which now went with the name of Election Systems and Software, Inc. (ES&S), together with its local counterpart, TCTI, conducted a technical assessment on all 68 machines in April. It found out several machines needing replacement of certain parts, while majority were just in need of a minor tune up.

1998