In a press conference this afternoon, Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Jose A.R. Melo hailed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for signing into law a bill allocating P11.3 billion for the automation of the May 10, 2010 national and local elections. "Finally, after a long, long, haul; our bill is finally a law," a beaming COMELEC chief told reporters. President Arroyo on Monday signed Republic Act 9295 which allocated additional funds for election automation. With the bill signed into law, Melo said the President has signified "that she is living up to her promise that automation of the 2010 elections will be her legacy." Meanwhile, COMELEC Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the poll body has been closely coordinating with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to hammer out the "mechanics" on how qualified inmates may be allowed to vote. "I was tasked by our good Chairman to coordinate with BJMP, DILG and CHR. As a matter of fact, we have a meeting this afternoon at the CHR to flesh out the mechanics on how to operationalize this privilege that should be enjoyed by the qualified prisoners," Sarmiento said, noting that inmates who are not yet convicted may exercise their right to vote. ###