Namfrel quick count quicker?

After software woes, the National Movement for Free Elections said Wednesday its quick count for 2007 is turning out to be faster than in 2004.

But of course. In 2004, Namfrel volunteers sent election results per precinct through text. They thought they found the ultimate technology for quick counting, only to find their servers bogging down due to an avalanche of text messages. Namfrel wanted to make sure the votes sent through text were accurate, and so two people had to text in the results separately and there must be a match before the results are accepted. Namfrel's list of precincts also differed from Comelec's list.

Result? Counting was set back two or three days , and by day three, only 5% of precincts have been counted. Of course, this year's quick count will quicker, now that Namfrel's back to landline phone, fax, and email.