Field tests, mock polls set to assess ACMs

MANILA, Philippines — To ensure that the new automated counting machines (ACMs) to be used in the May 2025 midterm elections are secure and accurate, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be holding field tests and mock polls in the coming months.

The Comelec announced that it would conduct field tests on Oct. 30 in several areas in the National Capital Region, Batanes, Quezon province, Palawan, Antique, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi and North Cotabato.

Field tests are also scheduled in Tokyo, Athens, Abu Dhabi and New York, the Comelec said.

Mock elections are set in selected areas in Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, Calabarzon, Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Nov. 23.

Overseas voters in Hong Kong can also participate in the mock elections.

“The field tests will be done in an actual environment using the final AES (automated election system),” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said.

Garcia said actual voters and members of the electoral board as well as the board of canvassers would participate in the mock elections.

He said the holding of field tests and mock elections is part of the assessment process of the Comelec’s technical evaluation committee ahead of the midterm elections.

On Saturday, the Comelec received an additional 8,640 ACMs and other election paraphernalia to be used in the elections.

The poll body said a total of 24,000 ACMs had been delivered by Miru Systems, the techonology provider for the 2025 elections.

The delivery of the 110,000 ACMs procured by the Comelec is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Miru has fulfilled 100 percent of the delivery of consolidated canvassing system, servers, printers, laptops, plastic kits, boxes and plastic seals to be used in the canvassing of votes.

The Comelec, however, said that hardware items should pass the acceptance test, which will commence on Sept. 11.