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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
While the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections launched an app that can be used by voters in scanning QR codes to verify election transmitted results, this will not show the names of candidates they voted for
Claim: An app can be used to scan the quick response (QR) codes in the voter receipt to see if it contains similar names reflected on the voter receipt.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The clip bearing the said claim was posted on Threads on April 26 and has already received 258 reactions, 589 shares, 47 comments, and 45 reposts as of writing. The original video on YouTube was posted on April 22 and has already gained an estimated 48,000 views.
In the video, lawyer Glenn Chong implies voters can confirm whether the votes recorded in the machine match with the actual candidates the voter voted for by scanning the QR code printed on the voter receipt.
“There is an app na pwede nating basahin, wag na nating gamitin yung makina nila, yung camera nila. Gamitin natin yung app na to, para mabasa natin yung QR code kung yun ba ang laman ng resibo natin.” (There is an app that we can read, let’s not use their machine, their camera. Let’s use this app, so we can read the QR code to see if that’s what’s on our receipt.)
“Tapos at a rate of 800 QR codes per hour, mabibilang natin yung mga boto. So kung mabilang natin ang boto using the QR code, hindi makakapandaya yung makina. Kahit anong gawin nila, mabubuking at mabubuking sila,” he added. (Then at a rate of 800 QR codes per hour, we can count the votes. So if we count the votes using the QR code, the machine can’t cheat. No matter what they do, they will be open and open.)
The video has been circulating ahead of the 2025 midterm elections on May 12, and may spread confusion and fear among voters about the credibility of the upcoming polls.
The facts: While the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) launched an app which can be used by voters in scanning QR codes to verify election transmitted results, this will not show the names of candidates voted for.
The Comelec explained on May 8, 2025 that QR codes in the voter receipts show a machine-readable code bearing the results of the elections in a specific precinct.
“Ang layunin ng mga QR Code na nakapaloob sa Election Return na iiimprenta ng Automated Counting Machine (ACM) pagkasara ng botohan ay upang makita ng bawat Pilipino ang naging resulta ng May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections sa kani-kanilang presinto,” the Facebook post stated.
(The purpose of the QR Codes contained in the Election Return that will be printed by the Automated Counting Machine (ACM) after the polls close is to allow every Filipino to see the results of the May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections in their respective precincts.)
On April 14, 2025, Comelec Chairman George Garcia clarified that the QR codes will help ensure the integrity of the election. Garcia said that having QR codes as receipts will prevent voters from having physical proof of candidates they voted for, which is sometimes used in vote-buying.
They also clarified that political parties cannot use the QR codes in determining who voted for them as these were designed with strong security codes that cannot be accessed by any political candidate.
Glenn Chong: The person talking in the said video was a former lawmaker that has long been alleging electoral fraud since 2016. The camp of former vice president Leni Robredo asked the Supreme Court in 2016 to investigate Chong.
He was able to access audit logs despite having no connection to any of the political parties. The camp of then-defeated Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also disowned Chong. He also faced a disbarment complaint in November 2024 for physical threats against First Lady Liza Marcos.
About the QR codes: This is the first time that the Philippine election is using QR codes in election returns.
After casting their votes, voters will receive a printed voter receipt with a QR code which they can check to see if the machine read their ballot correctly.
Voters are not allowed to take a photo of that QR code, but after the precincts close, poll workers can verify if the result in the receipt matches that on the physical ballot.
The Comelec also announced that for the first time, they will allow the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) to scan the QR code of the election turnouts.
Similar fact checks: Rappler has previously debunked fact checks related to the conduct of the 2025 elections:
- FACT CHECK: National ID not required to vote in May 2025 elections
- FACT CHECK: No 24-hour curfew in Cavite from May 1 to 15, 2025
- FACT CHECK: Encrypted code in online voting a security feature – Comelec
- FACT CHECK: 2025 midterm elections on May 12, no date change
- FACT CHECK: Comelec’s ballot is not prone to overvote due to ink bleeding
– Angelee Kaye Abelinde/Rappler.com
Angelee Kaye Abelinde, a campus journalist from Naga City, is a second-year Journalism student of Bicol University and the current copy editor of The Bicol Universitarian. She is a graduate of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellow of Rappler for 2024.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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