Mock polls set in CdeO today

THE mock polls, which are conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Cagayan de Oro City, is set today, Saturday, with at least 100 voters participating in preparation for the May 2013 polls, a Comelec official said.

Berna Quiambao, election assistant II of Comelec, said two of the selected villages -- Barangay Balulang and Barangay 1 with Precincts 0156A and 0001A, respectively -- were chosen for the simultaneous mock election with 50-registered voters each.

For Barangay 1, the venue will be at City Central School, while Balulang Elementary School will serve as the venue for Barangay Balulang.

Quiambao said the voters will try the new machines to be used in the May elections.

The installation of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines and transmission devices will start at exactly 6 a.m. and open voting would immediately follow.

The Comelec said voting will be closed at 10 a.m. while transmission of data will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

Today's mock elections will be held simultaneously in nine other areas of the country, Quiambao said.

Other venues of mock polls are the following: fifth district of Manila (Epifanio delos Santos Elementary School and Herminigildo Atienza Elementary School); Iriga City (Iriga Central School and Sta. Teresita Elementary School); Municipality of Bato (Bato North Elementary School and Atipolo Elementary School) in Camarines Sur; Dumaguete City (City Central Elementary School and Camanjac Elementary School); Municipality of Sta. Catalina (Santa Catalina North Central School and Kabulacan Elementary School) in Negros Oriental; Municipality of Initao (Initao Central School and Oguis Elementary School) in Misamis Oriental; Municipalities of Bongao (Lamion Walking Blackboard Elementary School and Simandagit Elementary School) in Tawi Tawi; and Buluan (Pilot Elementary School and Talitay Elementary School) in Maguindanao.

Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said the Commission is already prepared for the mock polls and is praying that everything will be perfect except for some minor problems.

Brillantes said the mock polls will cover the entire process of election from the checking of the names in the official voters' list to the release of results of the voting.

The Comelec-Education and Information Department (EID) said the main precincts of the mock polls will be in Barangays UP Campus (UP Integrated School) and Bagong Lipunan ng Crame (P. Bernardo High School), both located at the 4th District of Quezon City.

Brillantes said the ballots to be used will bear fictitious foreign names of candidates.

After voting closes, the PCOS machines will print the Election Returns. The results will then be transmitted to the city/municipal Board of Canvassers, Central Server and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas. (With reports from HDT/Sunnex)