Basilan residents excited by voting machines -- officials

By TJ Burgonio Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA, Philippines -- Residents of Lantawan, Basilan, are excited to try out the electronic voting system that has been set up for the August 11 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, officials said Saturday. The Commission on Elections has set in place two types of technologies, one for Maguindanao province, and another for Basilan and four other provinces in the ARMM for the first computerized elections in history. Basilan Governor Jum Akbar said she expected no serious problems on election day because the election body has fully explained to the voters how the computerized system works. "In Basilan, I don't expect any hitches,'' she told reporters after a press forum. "I expect a higher turnout.'' Mayor Tahira Ismael of Lantawan, Basilan said the local government... [read full story]