The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) held a mock election for 2022 national and local elections yesterday, December 29, 2021, which was participated by 34 voting centers in 7 regions and was live on COMELEC’s Facebook page. It started at 7 a.m. and ended at 5 p.m.
Following the guidelines for the 2022 elections, voting centers set up disinfection and screening at the entrance with temperature scanning. An Isolation Polling Place (IPP) was also designated for those with COVID-19 symptoms.
If free from COVID-19 symptoms, voter goes straight to the Voter’s Assistance Desk to check their precinct number and sequence before proceeding to the polling precinct to cast their vote. At the same time, those with symptoms stay at the IPP for vote casting.
The poll body has also set up an Emergency Accessible Polling Place (EAPP) for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and pregnant women.
All participants were required to wear face shields and face masks.
Some issues observed from the mock election are lousy weather, which caused the thickness of ballots, electronic transmission due to difficulty in internet connection, and social distancing among the volunteer voters.
Despite these, COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez confidently said in a live press conference that the mock election was a success.
“The mock election was actually a success. In a vast majority where the mock election was held, we have a high turnout. In fact, in most places, we had a 100% turnout…”
Jimenez added that all the problems that were encountered in the mock election are being taken into consideration so that they can be factored in when the actual elections take place next year.
“Thank you very much everyone, we will update you on the learnings from this mock elections. Again medyo madami tayong data na kailangang i-process. Kailangan nating intindihin kung ano ang naganap today, and how can we even improve it moving forward.”
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Dionardo Carlos reiterated in a statement the importance of the pre-election activity for the 2022 elections.
“This will be an important pre-election activity to determine the flow of process and the observance of the guidelines, including the restrictions that our PNP personnel should be made aware of during the election day.” DZUP