Comelec to hold mock polls on Jan. 19 to test AES features

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be holding mock elections on  Saturday, Jan. 19, to “test and ensure the security features, accuracy, and functionality” of the automated electoral system (AES) in time for the May 2019 midterm elections.

“Magkakaroon tayo ng mock elections kung saan ipapakita natin yung end-to-end nung ating automated electoral system na magaganap sa May 2019,” Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said in a press conference on Thursday.

The electoral body would be holding mock elections on a total of 60 polling places spread across the country, including areas such as Quezon City, Manila, Pasig, Taguig, Pateros, Valenzuela City, Muntinlupa City, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Cebu, Bohol, Zamboanga del Norte, Davao del Sur, South Cotabato, Sulu and Basilan.

A total of 90 vote counting machines (VCMs) would also be used in the mock elections, with 60 VCMs to be primarily utilized while 30 other units will be set aside for contingency purposes.

Aside from the VCMs, the Comelec would also be pilot-testing the Voter Registration Verification System (VRVS) on selected barangays in the National Capital Region (NCR) namely: Brgy. Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City, Brgy. Bahay Toro in Quezon City, and Brgy. 669 in Manila.

Voters who will cast their vote in precincts with VRVS would have their identities verified by the system on two ways: by fingerprint scanning or manually searching their names on the system by typing their names on the keyboard of the VRVS machine.

The VRVS would then print a receipt to confirm that the voter is registered in the system. The voter would then be given a ballot by the election board members.

The schedule of voting for these selected barangays would start from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m, as these voting centers would accommodate 800-1,000 voters, the expected estimate of voters per area for the May 2019 elections.

The rest of the voting centers would have a voting period of 6 a.m. to 12 nn only. The 57 voting centers would only accommodate 100 voters.

Jimenez reminded voters to fully shade the ovals in the ballot when they vote in May.

“We still recommend 100 percent shading. This is to ensure that the vote is, for sure, counted,” he said.

He also reminded the voters not to write unnecessary marks on the ballot because it would be rejected by the machine.

If, however, the voter receives a ballot which bears unnecessary marks, the voter should return the tampered ballot and have it replaced.

“[If] a regular voter comes up with a ballot that has a mark on it, isasauli niya yan. The ballot that the voter must accept is the ballot that is clean on both sides… and clean means walang marka doon sa voting oval, and walang kahit anong indikasyon ng kahit ano,” he said.

“‘Pag di regular ballot yan, hindi obligado ang botante na tanggapin yan,” Jimenez added. /jpv

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