The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will hold mock elections in 30 barangays across the Philippines on Saturday, January 25, as part of its preparations for the automated election system (AES) in the upcoming May 2025 national and local polls.
According to Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco, the activity aims to simulate the end-to-end voting process to ensure the AES’s efficiency, security, and accuracy.
“This is not just a routine exercise but a crucial step mandated by law to evaluate the readiness of our automated election system,” Laudiangco said in a phone interview.
The simulation will involve actual registered voters casting their votes between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM.
Mock election locations
The mock elections will be conducted in selected barangays in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
- Metro Manila: Barangays San Pedro and Sta. Ana (Pateros), Ususan and Pinagsama (Taguig City), and Poblacion and Pio del Pilar (Makati City).
- Luzon: Barangays Poblacion and Guinaang (Bontoc, Mt. Province), Angkeling and Poblacion (Sagada, Mt. Province), Dela Paz and San Juan (Antipolo City), and Bagumbong and Special District (Jala-Jala, Rizal).
- Visayas: Barangays Taboc and San Gabriel (Borongan City) and Poblacion 9 and Masloc (Lawaan, Eastern Samar).
- Mindanao: Barangays Washington and San Isidro (Surigao City) and Poblacion and Guinaang (Placer, Surigao del Norte).
- BARMM: Barangays Walled City and Bus-bus (Jolo), Taglibi and Anuling (Patikul, Sulu), Batulawan and Fort Pikit (Malidegao), and Pedtad and Tamped (Old Kaabakan in the Special Geographic Area).
Under Republic Act 9369, mock elections are a legal requirement to validate the functionality of the AES.
Local absentee voting (LAV) schedule
The Comelec has also set the Local Absentee Voting (LAV) period for April 28-30, 2025, allowing government officials, military and police personnel, and media members to cast their votes ahead of Election Day.
Resolution No. 11091 outlines the eligibility criteria for LAV, which permits participants to vote exclusively for senatorial candidates and party-list organizations.
- Eligibility:
- Government officials and employees, including members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP).
- Media practitioners, including technical and support staff.
- Application Process:
- Government officials and uniformed personnel must file applications with immediate supervisors or commanders.
- Media professionals must submit applications to the Office of the Regional Election Director in Metro Manila, City Election Officers in independent cities, or Provincial Election Supervisors in other areas.
Applications must be submitted no later than March 7, 2025.
In the May 2022 elections, 84,358 individuals were registered for LAV, with 74,846 casting their votes, resulting in an 88.72% voter turnout.
The mock elections and LAV initiatives underscore Comelec’s commitment to ensuring a smooth and credible electoral process for the May 2025.