Comelec sets mock polls on Dec. 29

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be holding mock polls in several places in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao on December 29 in preparation for the May 9, 2022 national and local elections.

“We will have an end-to-end demonstration of the whole process. We will test on how accurate, true and secure the (voting) process,” Comelec Deputy Executive Director for Operations Teofisto Elnas Jr. said in an online forum conducted by election watchdog group National Citizens for Free Elections (Namfrel).

In Luzon, the mock polls will be heled in Isabela: Barangays District 1 (Pob) and Minante 1 in Cauayan City; and in Barangays Magsaysay and Gayong in Cordon. In Albay: in Barangay 16 of Kawit East, Barangay 13 of Ilawod West (Barangay 13) and in Barangays Biodoran, Banawan and Caratagan in Legaspi City.

In the Visayas, Negros Oriental: in Barangays Barangays Taclobo and Balogo of Dumaguete City, and in Barangays Poblacion and Mayabon of Zamboanguita; Leyte: in Barangays 6, and 6-A of Tacloban, and in Barangays Poblacion Zone 11 and Gaas of Baybay City, and Barangays Ipil II and San Juan in Palompon.

In Mindanao, Maguindanao: Barangays Rosary Heights 2 and Tamontaka I of Cotabato City; Mother Poblacion and Poblacion 1 of Sharif Aguak; and Poblacion and Dical of Buluan. Davao del Sur: Barangays Zone 3 and San Miguel of Digos City and Poblacion and Talas of Sulop.

In the National Capital Region (NCR), two cities and one municipality will be holding mock polls in Pasay City’s Barangays 70 (1st District) and 110 (2nd District); Taguig City’s Ususan (1st District) and Western Bicutan (2nd District), and Pateros’s Barangays San Pedro and San Roque.

Elnas said the results will be counted, transmitted and received in different destinations.

“This is where we would be able to test our VCMs (vote counting machines), from the start, opening until voting, consolidation of results, then printing of election returns and also the printing of the voting receipts…” he added.

On the other hand, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the poll body will have a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) this week to discuss the preparations for the mock polls.

“I think on December 1 we are going to have a meeting with the IATF to discuss the security preparation for the mock elections…the mock elections will involve real voters and real BEIs (Board of Elections Inspectors). So there’s a lot of conversation about safety and security,” he added.