MANILA — Technology by Korean firm Miru has introduced new features for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections in the Philippines.

Miru will provide automated counting machines and other election materials for next year's polls.

Its automated counting machines allow voters to recast their ballots in case they forgot or want to vote for more candidates, such as in their senatorial slate.

READ: Comelec visits Miru headquarters in South Korea

"If you want to add another candidate, you have to [press] Return," Commission on Elections chairman George Garcia said in a demonstration of the new counting machines on ANC's "Headstart."

He said rules on recasting the ballot are still being finalized because they still need to conduct a time-and-motion study.

In February, Comelec declared the joint venture of Miru Systems Company Ltd. and 3 Filipino companies as the winning bidder of the P18.8-billion FASTrAC project for the May 2025 automated elections. 

Under the FASTrAC or Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count, the joint venture will supply the hardware, which includes 110,000 automated counting machines, laptops, ballot boxes and ballots, the software or the Consolidation and Canvassing System, and the Election Management System.

READ: SC urged to block Comelec-Miru contract for 2025 polls

Garcia said he is confident that Miru's machine will run smoothly in the elections. "We’re hoping because these are new, these should not malfunction," Garcia said.

The previous major polls, the 2022 presidential elections, saw many voting machines malfunction, which caused long queues outside polling precincts and likely disenfranchised some voters.

The poll chief also said Miru committed to put up some 82 repair hubs, noting that they have 6,000 excess machines in case some would not function properly on election day.