AVANTE Partners with COMELEC to Achieve Unprecedented Election Automation in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao of the Philippines.

The Optical Mark Reader (OMR) system deployed by AVANTE counted more than one million ballots with 100% accuracy and reliability

PRINCETON, N.J. -- AVANTE announced its OMR system, used in five out of six provinces for the August 11, 2008 election in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) of the Philippines, successfully counted more than one million ballots with 100% accuracy and delivered the results in record time.

"We have set a few firsts in the recent elections," Melo (Chairman of COMELEC) said. "The Comelec is slowly but surely shedding off its old image." (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=128184). Highlights include:

* "The first fraud-free (ballot-counting) election in more than half a century;

* The first use of electronic voting and transmission of machines in a Philippine electoral exercise;

* The first time the ballot printing process was broadcast live over the Internet;"

"In addition to the electoral process achievements, the voting solution deployed in the Philippines represents the highest standard of election integrity and auditability in the world. The basic solution was certified for reliability by an Independent Testing Agent according to U.S. Voting Standard Guidelines and utilizes most of the innovations patented by AVANTE to solve all the potential issues of electronic voting", Dr. Chung, CEO of AVANTE said. The ballots utilized proprietary anti-copying and counterfeit ballot prevention functions and were digitally captured for auditability.

Benefits of the credible election are starting to emerge. "Speaker Prospero Nograles yesterday asked newly re-elected Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and other ARMM officials who won "clean and clear" in recent fully automated ARMM elections, to use their overwhelming mandate to bring a just and lasting peace in Mindanao." (http://www.visayandailystar.com/2008/August/18/negor4.htm)

AVANTE congratulates the commissioners and staff of COMELEC for their successful implementation of the first automated ballot counting and consolidation, and the peaceful ARMM election.

ABOUT AVANTE

AVANTE is located in Princeton NJ (www.avantetech.com). The company pioneered and invented DRE with VVPAT, auditable OMR voting solutions, ballot marking device and system and many other voting system improvements with 18 issued and pending US patents.