MANILA, Philippines – Gearing up for the presidential polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to hold mock elections on Saturday, February 13, in 20 key locations across the Philippines.

In a statement, the Comelec said it expects more than 25,000 voters to join the mock elections on Saturday.

The poll body said the process aims to test the Philippines’ automated election system. 

This is the 3rd time the Philippines is conducting automated national and local elections. The country first did this in 2010, then in 2013. 

The Comelec said it is holding mock elections in areas such as the following:

• Taguig City – Tuktukan and Western Bicutan
• Pateros – Poblacion and Aguho
• Quezon City (First District) – Bagong Pag-asa and San Isidro Labrador
• Manila City (Fifth District) – Barangays 669 and 649
• Dagupan City – Poblacion Oeste and Pugaro
• Alaminos – Poblacion and Linmansangan
• Tuguegarao City – Centro 1 (Poblacion) and Nambalan Norte
• Aparri – Centro 1 (Poblacion) and Paddaya
• Sorsogon City – Poblacion and Osiao
• Matnog – Camcaman (Pob) and Calintaan
• Kalibo – Poblacion and Linabuan
• Malay – Cabutongan
• Dipolog City – Barangay Central (Pob) and Sinaman
• Sindangan – Poblacion and Tinaplan 
• General Santos City – Dadiangan East and San Jose
• Surallah – Libertad and Canahay (Godwino)
• Jolo, Sulu – San Raymundo and Tulay
• Lamitan City, Basilan – Malinis and Parangbasak

Facing a major problem

The Comelec also conducted mock elections in 2013.

Back then, a committee found 15 discrepancies between the tally of the vote-counting machine and the random manual audit. 

While the Comelec prepares for the mock elections on Saturday, however, it continues to face a major problem. 

Comelec Commissioner Christian Lim said the new problem involves incompatible codes in the systems to be used. The Comelec now needs to redo a major step to make these codes compatible.

This compatibility issue prompted the Comelec to delay the printing of ballots.

This could also affect other election schedules.

Lim warned that because of this problem, the Comelec might need to postpone the May 9 national and local elections in a few areas.

On the prospects of postponing elections, he said, “Sana naman hindi.” (I hope not.) – Rappler.com