Orderly conduct of mock polls seen in 2 Pasay City schools
By Khriscielle Yalao
The smooth conduct of the second mock elections in preparation for the 2022 national polls was observed in two schools in Pasay City and other polling places in in the country on Wednesday, Dec. 29.
Mock elections in Padre Zamora Elementary School were held from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and in Pasay City West High School from 7 a.m. to 12 n.n.
The mock elections were done to simulate the voting process following the health and safety protocols amid the pandemic in preparation for the national and local elections on May 9, 2022.
In an interview with GMA News, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez said an average of 600 to 700 people were expected to participate in the mock elections in each of the 34 barangays.
According to CNN Philippines, 182 out of 786 voters have participated in the mock elections at Padre Zamora Elementary School as of 11 a.m.
All participants were required to wear face shields and face masks.
According to GMA News, participants in Padre Zamora Elementary School received a gift bag containing face masks, a face shield, and a bottle of alcohol upon their entry.
Voters underwent temperature checks and filled out health declaration forms manually or online through a QR code posted at the stall as part of observing COVID-19 safety protocols.
An Emergency Accessible Polling Place (EAPP) was set up to assist senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and pregnant women.
Isolation polling places (IPP) were set up in the voting areas for voters who were found exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms upon entry.
Voters without COVID-19 symptoms proceeded to the Voters Assistance Desk (VAD) in order to get their precinct number.
Comelec utilized a three-classroom set up in the two schools.
Voters were led to the waiting room before proceeding to the voting room where only groups of 10 people were allowed inside.
Voters were given 10-inch long ballots containing names of celebrities and made-up Filipino names to stand in as the candidates per position.
After the voters have filled out their ballots, they proceeded to the third room to input their forms in the vote counting machines (VCM), receive the ballot receipt, and have their fingers inked by a voting usher.
Comelec held the first dry-run of the 2022 mock elections on October 23 in San Juan City. A second dry-run was conducted after only 11 percent of the 4,000 expected participants attended the first dry-run.
Jimenez said the second dry run will focus on the “bottlenecks” or obstacles that may be encountered during the proceedings more than the turnout numbers.
“Historically speaking, among Filipinos hindi naman talaga masyado excited pag hindi tunay na eleksyon...Ngayon makikita lang natin na mayroong mga ibang na-mobilize because of the preparatory work of the Comelec. Pero konti lang ‘yan. The turnout today will not be an indication, one way or the other, of the turnout that we will see on election day, (Historically speaking, Filipinos are not very excited about mock elections...Today we will see few participants even as the Comelec mobilized some groups as part of our preparatory work. The turnout today will not be an indication, one way or the other, of the turnout that we will see on election day),” Jimenez explained in a press conference at Padre Zamora Elementary School on Wednesday morning.
After the voting simulation in the two schools, the VCMs will be transferred for canvassing by Comelec to the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. (Khriscielle Yalao)