PCOS Trainers

Presentation
Training Objectives:
•To get acquainted with how the system works
•To identify the scope and limitations of the PCOS
•To distinguish the roles and responsibilities of the 2
election field personnel namely Supervisors and
Technicians
Course Outline
DAY 1

Introduction:
Chapter 1: PCOS (Precinct Count Optical Scanner)
1. Parts and Specifications
2. Functionalities

Chapter 2: Troubleshooting
• Exercises
• Hands on experience

DAY 2

Chapter 3: Roles And Responsibilities

Chapter 4: Course Evaluation
In the Philippines 2010 national and local election, the SAES will
take part in the automated election. The SAES Electoral
Platform Software has the following components:
•SAES1800 Firmware and Hardware (Precinct Count Optical
Scanner)
•Real-time Electoral Information System (Consolidation
Canvassing System)

However, the most common interaction in the election event will

be with the SAES 1800 Firmware and Hardware otherwise
known as the Precinct Count Optical Scanner or PCOS. The
Real-time Electoral Information System otherwise known as the
Consolidation Canvassing System or CCS will also take a key
role.
Precinct Count Optical Scanner (PCOS)

The SAES1800 Firmware and Hardware is a Precinct Count Optical

Scanner (PCOS) ballot tabulator. It is used alongside compatible ballot
storage boxes. The system is designed to scan marked paper ballots,
interpret the voter marks, tabulate each vote, store safely each ballot
and has the capability to transmit data.

Consolidation Canvassing System (CCS)

The Consolidation Canvassing System or CCS is also referred to as

Real-time Electoral Information System. It is a software program
installed in a laptop that consolidates and processes data from the
tabulated ballots entered in the PCOS machine.
 Security key receptacle
Operator LCD
The contact point for the screen used to
Security key interact with the
application
Ballot entry slot

A narrow paper
tray in the front
slot where ballots Printer
are inserted Compartment

The three opening

or door located on
Administrator Access
top of the unit
Compartment

Input in the front left hand

side contains the write-
protect backup removable Transmission Port
memory card
Port is an RJ45 interface on
the right side used for
Operator access / POLL Worker connecting the external
compartment input modem/cellular device for
results transmission
Input in the front right hand side
contains the primary removable
memory card
Close Caption of the 2 compartments
 Battery Power port

Ballot Exit slot This is where to put the

battery pack that will use for
Opposite of the Ballot backing up the power
entry slot at the back of Reset
the unit where valid
ballots are ejected after To refresh the current from
passing through a feed power instability
mechanism.

Ballot diversion slot

AC Power port
Is located at the bottom
of the unit where This is where to put the
exceptional ballots are power supply of the
diverted based on the PCOS machine
configuration
REMOVABLE MEMORY CARD
The PCOS machine uses a COMPACT FLASH
removable Memory card .
This is where the application is stored and is
used for backing up data, like election result
and audit logs.

THERMAL PAPER
This is the paper that is used for printing
election results and is located at the
THERMAL PRINTER.

SECURITY KEY
The security key is a special device that is
assigned to each PCOS machine
Power Supply AC adapter that comes with the PCOS
Machine which Uses 220 volts and an
Output of 20 volts AC.
Device that will be used for the Transmission

MODEM BGAN
1. Turn Off the PCOS machine by tapping the Shutdown function
2. Unplugged all the power source connected to the PCOS machine
3. Open the administrator or the Poll worker compartment
4. Push the eject button located at inside the compartment
5. Take off the memory
6. Close the compartment
1. Turn Off the PCOS by tapping the Shutdown function
2. Unplugged all the power source connected to the PCOS
3. Open the administrator or the Poll worker compartment
4. Insert the Memory card by pushing it gently on the slot
Lift the printer cover door.
Note: Remove any lock that may have been placed on the
door if your jurisdiction regulations mandate the locking of
the printer cover door.
Press the blue button. The printer roller
component will pop out of its position.
Pick the printer roller component and remove the
old paper roll from the printer compartment
Insert the new paper roll into the rear section of the
printer compartment.

Note: Ensure the position of the new paper roll so that

the paper feeds from the bottom of the roll.
Pull the end of the roll forward so that the paper
lies between the two printer roller pivots.
Press the printer roller component into position on
top of the two printer roller pivots and the paper
below it.
Feed the end of the paper through the slot in the
printer cover door.
Close the printer cover door.
Tear off excess paper tape protruding from the
slot. The thermal printer is ready for printing
activities.
1. Check the Power supply specifications if it conforms
with the PCOS machine requirements
2. Plug the power supply to the wall outlet
3. Connect the power supply to the PCOS machine.
(PCOS machine will automatically start)
1. Plug the power supply to the outlet(If needed).
2. Connect the power supply to the transmission
device
3. Connect the cable to the PCOS machine and
transmission device
1. Unplugged the power supply at the wall outlet
and the transmission device
2. Press the lock located at the RJ-45 connector
and pull the cable gently
 PCOS Functionality
A range of monitoring software, techniques and error m marked ballot papers.
The data processing methods recovery methods are used to ensure that
memory hardware provides the highest possible levels of protection against
mechanical, thermal, and electromagnetic stresses that impact system
accuracy.

The machine is designed so that no ballot is allowed to pass the scanning stage
unless:
• Original ballots are verified to be valid and authentic
• All the markings around the ballot image are scanned
• Ballot are verified to belong to a clustered precint that the machine has been
configured for
• Ballots are verified to have not been previously scanned
The Operation Personnel – Specific duties of field Technicians and
Supervisors.

ATTENDANCE
You should be present at the assigned polling center no later than 9:30am. Call/Send SMS
NSC(National Support Center) to login your attendance and acknowledge the receipt of the
PCOS unit.

RECEPTION AND INSTALLATION

Assist the Board of Election Inspector’s (BEI) in accomplishing the following installation

Activities:
Receiving the PCOS unit
Ensuring that the correct unit is assigned to the polling center, check if the serial numbers
match with the documents provided with the unit.
Verifying that each component is present as per the check list
Checking that PCOS’s seals are not tampered and secure before opening
Ensuring that the designated location within the voting center has all the requirements
needed by PCOS (refer to Requirements at the Polling Place of the manual)
Assist in assembly of the PCOS unit to the ballot box
The Operation Personnel – Specific duties of field Technicians and Supervisors.

TESTING OF PCOS
Assist BEI’s in conducting the following testing activities:
Running diagnostics
Conduct of mock election
Generation of reports, install a new batch of thermal paper after printing all the reports
Transmission of data
RE-ZERO of polls
Shutting down of PCOS

SEALING OF PCOS
Assist BEI’s in conducting the following sealing activities:
Sealing of PCOS machine.
Packaging and securing of the PCOS machine and peripherals
Assisting in the documentation of results from the testing of PCOS

TESTING AND SEALING OF PCOS IS DONE AT LEAST

THREE DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY!
 RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS
Step by step process follow and
let PCOS perform self
examination of components
Running diagnostics

1. PCOS will beep to indicate that it is 2. BEI taps the PCOS iButton security key
ready to accept instructions from BEI. and wait for the unit to accomplish its
initial start up.
Running diagnostics

Note: If the PCOS iButton security key is 3. Tap the UTILITIES button.
not properly tapped into the receptacle, an
‘ERROR IN VALIDATING SECURITY
KEY’ message appears.
Running diagnostics

COMPLETE DIAGNOSTICS
MEMORY PASSED

COMPLETE DIAGNOSTICS
COMPACT FLASH PASSED

COMPLETE DIAGNOSTICS
EEPROM PASSED

4. Tap the RUN DIAGNOSTICS button. 5. PCOS runs diagnostics on the memory,
Compact Flash, EEPROM and displays
the appropriate message.
Running diagnostics

*** DIAGNOSTICS PRINTER

TEST. PLEASE DISCARD! ***

6. PCOS runs the diagnostics on the

thermal printer by printing a sample
output on tape.
Running diagnostics

Click YES and screen displays this

message

COMPLETE DIAGNOSTICS
THERMAL PRINTER PASSED

Click NO and screen displays this

message

COMPLETE DIAGNOSTICS
7. Click the appropriate button to confirm THERMAL PRINTER FAILED
the correct status of the printer after the (42000)
testing.
Running diagnostics

BUTTON 8 PRESSED!

8. Screen displays a set of numbered 9. Test all buttons. When finished, press
buttons to test the LCD. A message is DONE button.
displayed indicating what button was
pressed
Running diagnostics

Click YES and screen displays this

message

COMPLETE DIAGNOSTICS
LCD PASSED

Click NO and screen displays this

message

COMPLETE DIAGNOSTICS
10. PCOS will ask if the LCD is working LCD FAILED (45000)
properly.
Running diagnostics

11. PCOS will request the BEI/Election 12. PCOS will request BEI to press the
Supervisor/Election Official to press the RETURN button. Press it.
CAST button. Press it.
Running diagnostics

COMPLETE
DIAGNOSTICS
 
CLOCK PASSED

13. BMD feature is not available in this 14. PCOS will automatically test the clock
unit. Press the ACCEPT button to skip component and display the message
this test.
Running diagnostics

COMPLETE PLEASE INSERT ONE

DIAGNOSTICS BALLOT TO RUN
  SCANNER
POWER PASSED DIAGNOSTICS

15. PCOS will automatically test the 16. Screen displays the message and
power component and display the message request the BEI’s to run one test ballot to
test the scanner. Insert one official test
ballot.
Running diagnostics
PCOS asks the question
SCAN COMPLETE IS THE SCANNER WORKING
PROPERLY AND ARE THE
SCANNED BALLOT RESULTS
Message for valid ballot
CORRECT?
VERIFYING BALLOT
Click YES and screen displays this
message
Message for invalid ballot
RETURNING BALLOT COMPLETE DIAGNOSTICS
SCANNER PASSED

Click NO and screen displays this

17. PCOS validates the ballot and displays message
the following messages
COMPLETE DIAGNOSTICS
SCANNER FAILED (46027)
Running diagnostics

18. Screen will display options to PRINT Sample diagnostic result displayed on
or DISPLAY the results of the screen
diagnostics.
 RE-ZERO OF POLLS
Step by step process on how to
initialize (re-zero) PCOS
Re-zero of Polls

1. Tap the PCOS iButton security key 3. Select RE-ZERO options.

into the receptacle. Wait until the
administrator menu displays.

2. Select UTILITIES.
Re-zero of Polls

INITIALIZING VOTE
COUNTERS
(ENSURING THAT
VOTE COUNTERS ARE
SET TO ZERO)
 
PLEASE WAIT. . .

RESULTS HAVE BEEN

INITIALIZED

4. Enter the PIN codes. Tap the 5. Screen displays the following
ENTER button message and returns to the
administrator menu.
 MOCK ELECTIONS
STEP BY STEP PROCESS WILL
BE DISCUSSED IN DETAILS
ON THE NEXT TOPIC.
1. Installation of power to the PCOS

Plug the PCOS machine to the power outlet.

1. Installation of power to the PCOS

PCOS Machine is booting up

2. Accessing the main menu
The initial screen that you would see as soon as
you turn on the PCOS machine
2. Accessing the main menu

Tap the security key to the security key receptacle

2. Accessing the main menu
Tap open voting to open the election
3. Authenticating the pin code.
The screen would prompt for the first BEI pin code
3. Authenticating the pin code.
The screen would prompt you for the second BEI pin
code
4. Initializing reports.

Tap the button Initialize Report to print the

Initialization report
5. Voting process
The LCD screen would display that it is ready to
accept votes
5. Voting process
The proper way to insert the ballot
6. Close of voting

To display the menu options you need to tap the

security key to the receptacle
6. Close of voting
Tap the close voting button to begin the process in
closing the voting
6. Close of voting
A confirmation screen would display in the LCD
tap the “yes” button to confirm
6. Close of voting

The screen would prompt for the first BEI pin code
6. Close of voting
The screen would prompt for the second BEI pin
code
6. Close of voting
The screen would display the message “THE POLL IS
BEING CLOSED…….PLEASE WAIT”

POLL IS BEING
CLOSED. PLEASE
WAIT. . .
7. Inputting digital signature
The Screen would ask for the digital signature
7. Inputting digital signature
Tap the Ibutton dedicated for the digital signature
8. Printing 8 copies
Screen would display “Preparing Election Returns
please wait”.

PREPARING
ELECTION
RETURNS.
PLEASE WAIT. . .
8. Printing 8 copies

The PCOS machine will print 8 copies of Election

Returns for National Positions

PRINTING 8 COPIES
OF ELECTION
RETURNS (ER) FOR
NATIONAL POSITIONS
 
PLEASE WAIT. . .
8. Printing 8 copies
The PCOS machine would print 8 copies of Election
Returns for Local Positions

PRINTING 8 COPIES
OF ELECTION
RETURNS (ER) FOR
LOCAL POSITIONS
 
PLEASE WAIT. . .
9. Transmission
The screen would display a message that the PCOS
is ready to transmit and ask the BEI to plug the
transmission cable.

READY TO TRANSMIT
 
PLEASE PLUG IN
TRANSMISSION CABLE
TO ELECTRONICALLY
TRANSMIT ELECTION
REPORTS
9. Transmission
After the BEI plugs the transmission cable, the PCOS
would automatically transmit the results to the
designated recipients.

ELECTRONICALLY ELECTRONICALLY
TRANSMITTING TRANSMITTING
ELECTION REPORTS ELECTION REPORTS
TO MBOC TO KBP, POL
  PARTIES AND
PLEASE WAIT. . . CITIZENS ARM
 
PLEASE WAIT. . .
9. Transmission
After the PCOS finished transmission the screen
would give a confirmation message that all election
reports are transmitted.

ELECTION REPORTS
SUCCESSFULLY
TRANSMITTED TO
KBP, POL PARTIES
AND CITIZENS ARM
9. Printing 22 copies
The screen would remind the BEI’s to replace the
Thermal Paper
9. Printing 22 copies

The PCOS would print the 22 copies of the Election

Returns

PRINTING 22 COPIES PRINTING 22 COPIES

OF ELECTION OF ELECTION
RETURNS (ER) FOR RETURNS (ER) FOR
NATIONAL POSITIONS LOCAL POSITIONS
   
PLEASE WAIT. . . PLEASE WAIT. . .
9. Printing 22 copies
It would also print the Statistic reports and the Audit
logs

PRINTING PRINTING AUDIT LOG

STATISTICS REPORT  
  PLEASE WAIT. . .
PLEASE WAIT. . .
10. Closing functions

The screen would display the message that all

closing functions has been successfully completed
and it would back up the data

ALL CLOSING
FUNCTIONS HAVE
BEEN SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETED. BACKING UP
THE PCOS WILL NOW ELECTION DATA
BACKUP ELECTION PLEASE WAIT. . .
DATA AND
WRITE PROTECT THE
BACKUP CARD
10. Closing functions
Tap the shut down button to start the process in
shutting down the PCOS machine.
10. Closing functions

The screen would ask you if you are certain that

you want to shut down the PCOS, Tap “yes”
10. Closing functions
The screen would display that the PCOS is shutting
down

SHUTTING DOWN. . .
 COMMON MESSAGES
Usual text messages encountered
during Voting. They are
displayed on the LCD of PCOS.
Voting Process Exception Handling

The following are some examples of exceptional handling messages

that could be encountered during election.

• INVALID
• MISREAD
• MULTIPLE SHEET
• PAPER JAM
• DUPLICATE BALLOT
• AMBIGUOUS
 Invalid Ballot
“INVALID BALLOT DETECTED. PLEASE ENSURE YOU
RECEIVED THE CORRECT BALLOT”

An invalid ballot is a ballot that belongs to a different clustered

precinct from the one that the PCOS is assigned to. It happens when a
user inserts a ballot from the wrong
city/municipality/precinct/region/district for a particular PCOS unit.
 Misread Paper
“W A R N I N G!
****************
PAPER INSERTED WAS MISREAD AND COULD NOT BE
VERIFIED AS A VALID BALLOT. PLEASE VERIFY BALLOT
AND REFEED.”

A ballot that cannot be read by the PCOS for whatever reason is

considered misread. This includes legitimate ballots that have been
improperly scanned or foreign pieces of paper are present.
 Multiple Sheet

“MULTIFEED DETECTED.
PLEASE INSERT ONLY ONE BALLOT AT A TIME.”

A multiple sheet warning message prompts in the LCD when more

than one paper ballot is inserted in the machine simultaneously.
 Paper Jam
“POSSIBLE PAPER JAM DETECTED.
PLEASE CLEAR ANY PAPER FROM THE DEVICE AND
PRESS THE ‘CLEARED’ BUTTON”

Paper jams or ballot blockages are rare events but can occur. The
message below is displayed in the screen in this situation.
 Duplicate Ballot
(Previously Scanned Ballot)
“THIS BALLOT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY SCANNED.”

A warning message displays when PCOS detects that the ballot

inserted has already been scanned. No votes will be registered for the
ballot when the message below displays on the screen.
 Ambiguous Marking
WARNING!
***************
ONE OR MORE AMBIGUOUS MARKS DETECTED ON THE BALLOT.
PLEASE CORRECT ALL AMBIGUOUS MARKS AND REFEED THE
BALLOT.

An ambiguous mark warning occurs when the device detects a mark that is unclear.
There are two possible types of ambiguous marks:
1. The voter has made a mark that is too light, which needs to be darkened in order to be
clearly counted as a vote.
2. The voter has inadvertently made a small mark in a box where they had not intended
to.

The system cannot be certain of the voter’s intent thus, the mark is neither a definite vote
nor a non-vote. The screen displays the above message.
PCOS Technician’s
Training