More than 22K voters set to participate in mock polls

More than 22,000 voters are expected to participate in the mock polls of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Dec. 29.

The mock polls will be conducted in Metro Manila and in the provinces of Isabela, Albay, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Maguindanao, and Davao del Sur in preparation for the May 2022 polls.

In the National Capital Region, the mock polls will be held in Barangays San Pedro and San Roque in Pateros; Barangays Ususan and Western Bicutan in Taguig City; and Barangays 70 and 110 in Pasay City.

"The average is 500 to 600 voters per precinct," Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said in a virtual presser on Monday, Dec. 27.

He, however, explained that the activity is not about having high voter turnout.

"We are not after high voter turnout. What we are after is to see how the system performs," said Jimenez.

He said the test ballots in the mock polls will use fictitious names.

"The mock elections will use fictitious names...we will not be using the tentative list for anything even resembling a mock elections," Jimenez said.

He said poll watchdog groups will will be there to observe the activity as well as the Comelec Advisory Council, political parties among others.