The Commission on Elections on Monday said it would hold mock elections in select areas nationwide on Dec. 29 to determine the changes that need to be implemented as the country holds its first elections under a pandemic.
The mock elections on Wednesday will be held in 34 barangays in seven provinces in the country, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said.
The participating areas are:
- National Capital Region: two barangays in Pateros, and one each in the first and second districts of Taguig City and Pasay City.
- Isabela: two barangays in Cauayan City and Cordon
- Albay: two barangays in Legaspi City and Pioduran
- Negro Oriental: two barangays in Dumaguete City and Zamboanguita
- Leyte: two barangays in Tacloban City and Baybay City
- Maguindanao: two barangays in Cotabato City, Shariff Aguak, and Buluan
- Davao Del Sur: two barangays in Digos City and Sulop
A test ballot measuring 30 inches and containing fictitious names will be used for the mock elections, Jimenez said. While the Comelec has released a tentative list of candidates for the 2022 elections, this will not be used for the mock polls.
"We will not be using the tentative list for anything even resembling a mock elections. That would not be a good idea," Jimenez said.
"Hindi tayo naghahabol ng mataas na turnout. Ang hinahabol natin ay makita natin how the system performs," he said.
The Comelec earlier held a voting simulation in San Juan Elementary School to see how pandemic movement restrictions can be enforced on the actual election day.
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