{"id":2114300,"date":"2023-12-02T19:27:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-03T00:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/foreign-country-bans-smartmatic-voting-machines-firm-to-safeguard-integrity-of-elections\/"},"modified":"2023-12-02T19:32:57","modified_gmt":"2023-12-03T00:32:57","slug":"foreign-country-bans-smartmatic-voting-machines-firm-to-safeguard-integrity-of-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/foreign-country-bans-smartmatic-voting-machines-firm-to-safeguard-integrity-of-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"Foreign country prohibits Smartmatic voting machines to protect election integrity"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fforeign-country-bans-smartmatic-voting-machines-firm-to-safeguard-integrity-of-elections%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2114300&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Philippine Commission on Elections Bans\u200c Smartmatic from Elections<\/h2>\n<p>The Philippine Commission\u200d on Elections has made the decision to ban \u200dSmartmatic Philippines Inc. from\u200c providing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/theres-going-to-be-evidence-that-comes-forward-in-next-few-days-what-will-drastically-change-the-playing-field-security-expert-behind-antrim-county-audit-says-some\/\" title=\"\u201cThere\u2019s Going to Be Evidence that Comes Forward in Next Few Days what Will Drastically Change the Playing Field\u201d \u2014 Security Expert Behind Antrim County Audit Says Something Big Is Coming (VIDEO)\">election technology<\/a>\u2063 to the nation, putting\u2062 an end to their 13-year reign \u200bas the main\u200b provider.<\/p>\n<p>The ban comes after \u200callegations \u2062of bribery surfaced,\u200c claiming \u200cthat commission chairman Andres Bautista was paid off to ensure Smartmatic won the contract \u200dfor \u2063the 2016 elections. Bautista has \u200bdenied these \u200dallegations.<\/p>\n<p>Despite Smartmatic&#8217;s argument that\u200d they have\u2063 followed \u200dall the \u2064rules and that the allegations against them are baseless, the commission remained unmoved.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cAlthough these\u2062 allegations,\u200d stemming from incidents potentially spanning at least three \u200celection cycles, have not been conclusively \u2062proven, their \u2063gravity and \u200cpotential to\u200d damage public trust warrant the \u2063Commission (En banc\u2019s) proactive measures to safeguard the integrity of elections\u200b and\u200b democratic institutions,\u201d the commission stated.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The decision was \u2062also \u200dinfluenced by a U.S. government request\u2063 for information regarding possible violations of American laws. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/teacher-in-france-killed-in-knife-attack-several-others-wounded\/\" title=\"Teacher killed, others injured in knife attack in France.\">investigation includes charges<\/a> of violations of the Foreign Corrupt\u200c Practices \u2063Act, conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIt is noteworthy that Bautista, who served \u200das the Chairman of the Commission, was formally charged\u200c in September 2023, \u2063in connection with allegations \u200bof receiving \u200dbribes in exchange for awarding a contract for election machines\u200d to \u2063Smartmatic Corp,\u201d the \u2063commission \u200drevealed.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The commission expressed concern \u200cthat these charges\u200c cast doubt\u2063 on the integrity of \u200dthe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-kraken-released-attorney-sidney-powell-files-104-page-bombshell-complaint-of-massive-fraud-in-georgia-election-update-michigan-too\/\" title=\"BREAKING: KRAKEN RELEASED! Attorney Sidney Powell Files 104 Page BOMBSHELL COMPLAINT of Massive Fraud in Georgia Election - Update: Michigan too\">voting process<\/a> and \u2062the electoral system as a\u200d whole.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThe charges against Smartmatic and former Chairman Bautista are of public knowledge and tend to\u200b cause speculation and distrust \u2063of the \u200celectoral \u2064process,\u201d the commission emphasized.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Recognizing the potential threat to the strength and integrity of democratic\u2062 processes, the commission called \u200cfor a review of the case \u200dby the \u2062nation&#8217;s Special Bids and Awards Committee for \u2063possible permanent disqualification and blacklisting from all \u2064government procurement proceedings.<\/p>\n<p>It is important \u200bto \u200bnote \u2064that the commission clarified that their decision does not question the integrity\u2062 of the 2016 elections or any \u2063other automated elections\u200d conducted in the Philippines.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>Read more: \u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/foreign-country-bans-smartmatic-voting-machines-firm-safeguard-integrity-elections\/\">Foreign\u2062 Country Bans\u2063 Smartmatic\u200b Voting Machines Firm to &#8216;Safeguard Integrity of Elections&#8217;<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How will \u2062the banning of \u2064Smartmatic from \u2062participating in future election technology contracts affect\u2062 the Commission on Elections and the bidding process?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u200dAst three election cycles, do not relate directly \u200cto \u200cthe present exercise, they cast serious doubts\u2062 on the ability \u200dof the\u2064 Commission on Elections to administer elections credibly,\u201d said the Commission on Elections in a statement.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The ban means that Smartmatic \u200cwill not be allowed to \u2064participate in the bidding process for future election technology contracts. \u2062This opens the doors for other companies to provide their services to the Commission on Elections, bringing\u200d in new \u2064competition and potential innovation.<\/p>\n<p>Smartmatic has been the\u200d main provider \u200bof election technology in the Philippines since 2004, \u2063when they first introduced the automated election system. Their\u200d machines, which count \u200cthe votes and transmit results electronically, have been used in all national and local elections since then.<\/p>\n<p>Despite their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/as-pandemic-surges-in-india-us-offers-oxygen-and-related-supplies\/\" title=\"As Pandemic Surges in India, US Offers Oxygen and Related Supplies\">long-standing partnership<\/a> with the Commission on Elections, Smartmatic has faced criticism and controversy\u200c throughout\u2063 the\u200c years. There have been allegations \u200dof vote-rigging, tampering with election results, \u2064and lack of transparency in the bidding process.<\/p>\n<p>These allegations \u2064have always \u200dbeen strongly denied by Smartmatic, who insist that their machines \u200bare secure and their processes are transparent.\u200c However, the\u200b ban \u200dhas now put an end to \u200btheir reign\u200b as the main provider of election technology to the Philippines.<\/p>\n<p>Many\u200c see the ban as a step towards restoring the integrity of the election process in the country. It \u2064sends a strong message that any form of corruption \u200dor impropriety will\u200c not be tolerated, especially in matters \u200bas important as elections.<\/p>\n<p>The Commission on Elections\u200d has assured the \u200bpublic \u200dthat they are exploring options\u200c for\u2062 a\u2064 new, credible, and transparent\u200b election technology provider. They have \u200cemphasized the importance of credibility \u2064and public trust in\u200d the election \u2064process, and \u200dare committed to \u200bensuring a fair and honest electoral system.<\/p>\n<p>As the ban on Smartmatic takes \u200deffect, \u2063all eyes will be\u200c on the Commission on Elections to see how they handle the transition. \u200bIt is an opportunity\u2064 for the commission to prove that they are dedicated to upholding the values of democracy and fairness \u2062in the Philippines.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the banning of Smartmatic from providing election technology in the Philippines is a significant\u2064 milestone in the country&#8217;s electoral history. It serves as a reminder that the integrity of elections is paramount, and that\u2063 measures will be taken to safeguard it. The next \u200csteps taken by the Commission on Elections will be crucial in shaping the future of the electoral process in the Philippines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Philippine Commission on Elections has barred Smartmatic Philippines Inc. from future elections, after 13 years of being the primary election technology provider. The decision was based on bribery allegations involving commission chairman Andres Bautista, who was allegedly paid to secure Smartmatic&#8217;s contract for the 2016 elections<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":661,"featured_media":2114301,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2114300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2114300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/661"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2114300"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2114300\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2114301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2114300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2114300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2114300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}