2025 midterm elections
TACLOBAN CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Eastern Visayas conducted a regionwide orientation on Monday, Dec. 2, to familiarize voters and election personnel with the use of automated counting machines (ACMs) for the 2025 midterm elections.
The simultaneous activity, organized by the Comelec regional office, was deemed successful, with only minor issues reported during the demonstrations.
Jenette Fariola-Ruedas, Comelec regional information officer, noted that a few errors in ballot reading occurred during the mock voting but were resolved promptly.
“The ACMs just needed cleaning to ensure accurate ballot reading,” she explained.
The event aimed to educate both election staff and voters on the proper use of ACMs.
“This is essentially an orientation on the ACMs, highlighting their features while giving voters hands-on experience in preparation for the 2025 elections,” Fariola-Ruedas said.
At the Comelec regional office, over 30 participants joined the mock elections, simulating the voting process with the new machines.
The orientation program will continue until next month, with Comelec personnel visiting barangays to extend the campaign.
Eastern Visayas will require 5,777 ACMs, including backup units, for the 2025 polls.
The machines boast several advanced features, including the use of thinner paper, optical mark recognition (OMR) technology for ballot reading, direct recording electronic (DRE) technology with touch-screen interfaces, and voter receipts equipped with QR codes that can be scanned by the machine’s built-in camera.
Comelec officials in the region are optimistic that the orientation campaign will enhance voter confidence and ensure a smoother election process, particularly in Eastern Visayas.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
