The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday conducted a simulation exercise to test the readiness of the automated election system (AES) ahead of the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections on 14 September.

Around 500 registered voters from selected areas in Mindanao participated in the exercise, which tested voting procedures, vote counting machines, and the transmission of election results.

Comelec chairman George Garcia said the simulations were conducted in Tawi-Tawi and Maguindanao del Norte, where actual voters cast ballots while Electoral Board members operated the voting machines as they would on election day.

The poll body also tested the transmission of election returns from polling precincts to the Comelec servers.

Garcia expressed satisfaction with the preparations for the historic parliamentary polls, noting that the filing of certificates of candidacy from 5 to 7 May was peaceful.

“For the first time in the Bangsamoro, the filing of candidacy was completed without any untoward incident. The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have informed us that the poll body is in full control of the situation,” Garcia said.

Data from the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Election Monitoring Center in Intramuros showed that Clustered Precincts 68 and 69 at Cotabato City High School in Barangay Kalanganan, Cotabato City, achieved 100 percent voter turnout during the simulation, with all 50 registered participants casting their ballots.

Meanwhile, Garcia said the printing of official ballots will begin in the first week of July at the National Printing Office in Quezon City, immediately after the simulation activities.

Comelec has also started printing other election materials, including computerized voters’ lists, voters’ information sheets, training ballots, and posted computerized voters’ lists, as part of its preparations for the 14 September parliamentary elections.