Namfrel pushing for open data website for poll results

The National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) is looking to establish a website where the public may see the results of the local and national elections in May.

The move for an open election data website is part of the poll watchdog’s petition for accreditation still pending approval from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“The more eyes, the better,” Namfrel secretary general Eric Alvia said in an public forum in Makati on Wednesday.

Alvia said that open election data could provide information on where the results are coming from."

"We will even provide ‘yung portal or website na any Filipino all over the world can go to the site, even to the precinct level," Alvia said.

"Kunwari isang kapatid nating OFW sa Riyadh na gustong malaman kung anong nangyari sa kanyang sitio, malalaman niya kung sinong nanalo doon,” he added.

Alvia said NAMFREL's petition filed in December has yet to be approved by the Comelec En Banc.

NAMFREL also requested official accreditation for other regular activities to monitor the May 2019 elections, including random manual audit (RMA) and automated election system (AES) oversight.

Open election data is a "growing worldwide trend", said Namfrel national treasurer Lito Aviera. It was Aviera who conceptualized the idea of Namfrel putting up an open data website for the election results.

Aviera said the website would focus entirely on election data which, he said, could be beneficial for many including the Comelec.

"We are hoping na, if we were able to do some analytics na Comelec is more transparent about the data, we’re looking at the possible improvement or enhancement of for example, voter education, voter participation," Aviera said.

"We’re hoping that Comelec gains insights further insights for them to improve further their election management activities for election watchdogs like Namfrel," he added. —NB, GMA News