COMELEC conducts voting test in Tawi-Tawi

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has conducted a simulated voting exercise at Siyola Primary School in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi as part of its preparations for the Sept. 14, 2026 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections.

The simulation began with the opening of polling precincts and the casting of test ballots, allowing election officials to assess the readiness of personnel, equipment and election procedures before the historic regional polls, according to Comelec Chairman George Garcia.

He said  the exercise is designed to test the entire electoral process, including voter verification, ballot feeding, vote counting, the electronic transmission of results and the canvassing of votes under actual polling conditions.

Election officials also evaluated the performance of Automated Counting Machines (ACMs), contingency measures and communication systems to help identify and address potential technical or operational issues ahead of election day.

The Sept. 14, 2026 BARMM Parliamentary Elections will be the first regular parliamentary polls in the Bangsamoro region, marking a major milestone in the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law and the region’s transition to a fully elected parliamentary government.

Comelec has earlier said it is fully prepared for the conduct of the elections and has been carrying out simulation exercises, stakeholder consultations and technical testing in different areas to ensure a credible, orderly and peaceful electoral process.

Garcia said the results of the mock election will be used to further improve election operations and strengthen the reliability of the automated election system before voters in the Bangsamoro region elect their representatives in the historic parliamentary elections in September. Vito Barcelo Jr.