MOCK POLLS. Registered voters line up for the mock elections conducted by the Commission on Elections at the Pasay City West High School on Wednesday (Dec. 29, 2021). The activity aims to identify challenges that need to be addressed ahead of the May 9, 2022 national and local polls. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)
MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is not expecting a huge turnout during the mock polls which were held simultaneously in several areas in the country on Wednesday.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez admitted Filipinos are not that excited to join a simulation process as compared to the real holding of electoral exercises.
“We don’t expect this to be a high turnout event. Historically speaking, Filipino are not excited if it’s not the real elections,” he said in a press briefing at the Padre Zamora Elementary School in Pasay City, which is among the venues of the mock polls.
The poll body conducted the simulation process of the elections from voting up to the canvassing of votes in three areas in Metro Manila and several provinces in the country.
Registered voters from the cities of Pasay, Taguig and the municipality of Pateros and provinces of Isabela, Albay, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Maguindanao and Davao del Sur have participated in the activity.
Jimenez said the turnout of the mock polls has nothing to do with what would be the turnout of the polls slated next year.
“The turnout today will not be an indication one way or the other of the turnout that we will see on Election Day. Just to manage expectation,” he added.
The Comelec spokesperson said electoral event is being held to be able to see the possible problems and how to deal or manage them.
“This is not supposed to be a perfect event. This is supposed to be an event where we see real-life problems happening. Where we see love situation unfolding and hopefully real-life solutions working,” he added.
Meanwhile, Jimenez said they expected an 80 percent voter turnout nationwide in May 2022.
“Nationwide turnout, 80 percent, that would be interesting to watch. One of the things we have to expect is that it’s not 100 percent turnout in voting centers,” he added.
Aside from the voting process, the mock polls were done to implement the health and safety protocols amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19j pandemic for the May 9, 2022 national and local polls.
Participants were required to wear face shields and face masks. They also underwent temperature checks and filled out health declaration forms manually or online through a QR code.
Isolation polling places (IPP) were also set up in the voting areas for voters who were found exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms.
As for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and pregnant women, the poll body has set up an Emergency Accessible Polling Place (EAPP).
After the voting, the canvassing of the votes was conducted at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. (PNA)
