Vote doesn’t match receipt? Comelec says voters may have forgotten choices

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May 12, 2025 | 7:09pm

MANILA, Philippines — There is no evidence that the automated vote counting machines (ACMs) issued receipts that did not reflect voters’ actual choices; it is more likely that voters simply forgot whom they shaded, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on May 12.

Several voters took to social media to complain that the names on their voter’s receipts did not match the candidates they voted for.

“Doon sa mga sinasabi na hindi tumutugma daw 'yung kanilang resibo, as against doon sa balota, wala po kaming evidence or proof on that kasi napakataas ng posibilidad na nakalimutan nila na 'yun ang binoto nila,” Garcia said in a press conference in Manila. 

(For those who are saying that there is a mismatch in the receipts compared to the ballots, there is no evidence or proof on that because there is a high possibility that they forgot who they voted for.)

Garcia said there are no photos of the receipts because voters are not allowed to take pictures of their ballots or receipts.

He added that a ballot review will be conducted in the evening to determine the truth behind the complaints.

During the review, ballots will be manually counted and compared with the receipts, Garcia explained.

Election watchdogs National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting are also authorized to take photos of the ballots and the QR codes on the receipts. 

All receipts produced by the machines will be counted by independent watchdogs to ensure they match the actual transmitted results.