The Commission on Elections said Saturday’s mock elections in preparation for the May 13, 2019 midterm polls were successful.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the mock polls were successful as 59 of the 60 implementation areas were able to transmit results within 30 minutes of the close of voting.
“In one precinct, signal difficulties prevented electronic transmission; recourse to contingency measures was taken,” he said.
Jimenez said the pilot testing of the Voter Registration Verification System and Machine was also successful.
“The pilot test of the Voter Registration Verification System and Machine was similarly successful, generating many insights that will be valuable as we move forward with this pilot test,” said Jimenez.
The poll official said that the mock elections will test and ensure the security features, accuracy, integrity, and functional capabilities of the elements of the automated election system.
Poll watchdog group, Kontra Daya, however, observed several issues during the mock polls, particularly at the Toro Hills Elementary School in Quezon City.
“As early as 6:10 a.m., there was an error in the transmission diagnostics and it was not until the fourth attempt that the transmission became successful,” the group said.
Kontra Daya said the VRVM also had a problem with the printing of the receipt of the voter’s registration due to Bluetooth connection problem between the machine and the printer.
The group expressed hope that the transmission errors brought about by unstable Internet connection and faulty Bluetooth pairing would be addressed by the poll body. (Leslie Ann G. Aquino)