The mock elections conducted by the Commission on Elections Saturday ran smoothly with only minor glitches reported but these were quickly resolved.
Norman Cruz
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the mock elections were simultaneously held in at least 60 areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao aimed to check the security features, accuracy, and functionality of the automated electoral system, as part of the preparation for the forthcoming elections.
The Comelec was satisfied by the performance of the registration verification system (RVS) and vote counting machines (VCM) that would be used for the elections from voting to canvassing of votes.
The RVS identifies the voters by scanning their fingerprint in a machine, using their biometrics data, the Comelec said.
He said the dry run was also intended to educate the people in using the VCM, adding that while the automated electoral system was previously used, the voters must be more familiar with it.
Jimenez said they used the names of the celebrities in the mock election, and only 100 people were allowed to vote in each precinct.
The poll body is expecting more than 60 million voters in the forthcoming May 2019 elections, as there are more than 62 registered voters.
“We are urging all registered voters to participate in the coming elections to exercise their rights to choose their leaders,” he said.
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