The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is carrying out the final testing and sealing of automated counting machines (ACMs) across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) today, September 12, as preparations enter the final stretch for the region’s historic first parliamentary elections on Monday, September 14.
The exercise covers all 5,212 polling precincts in BARMM and is designed to ensure that the machines are functioning properly, accurately reading ballots and free of unauthorized programs or instructions before voters head to the polls.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the testing is deliberately being conducted before election day so officials can identify defective machines and arrange repairs or replacements in advance.
“Susubukan po natin ‘yung lahat ng makina kung gumagana, bumibilang ba ng tama,” Garcia said.
Final test before a historic vote
The testing and sealing is one of the last major technical steps before the September 14 elections, which will establish the first elected Bangsamoro Parliament.
According to Comelec, political parties, candidates, poll watchers, citizens’ arms and civil-society groups are expected to observe the process as part of safeguards designed to promote transparency and election integrity.
The poll body completed the distribution of election equipment and other materials earlier this week, including ballots and counting machines.
Comelec is using automated counting machines (ACMs) for the BARMM parliamentary elections. Reports said about 7,000 machines were delivered, providing additional units as contingency equipment for the region’s 5,212 precincts.
Nearly 2.4 million voters set to decide BARMM’s future
The September 14 election is not an ordinary regional vote.
About 2.393 million registered voters are expected to participate in the first regular Bangsamoro parliamentary elections. They will vote across 105 municipalities and two cities, with 5,212 precincts serving the electorate.
The new Parliament will have 80 members:
- 40 regional representatives from political parties
- 32 district representatives
- 8 sectoral representatives
The election represents a major step in BARMM’s transition from the interim governance structure toward an elected parliamentary government under the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
Why the machines are being tested now
Comelec officials say testing the machines before election day is crucial.
If a machine is found to be defective during the final testing, election authorities still have time to repair or replace it. Discovering the same problem only after voting has begun could create delays and complications at polling centers.
The testing also provides an opportunity to verify that the machines are correctly processing ballots and that there are no unauthorized programs or instructions that could affect the counting process.
The Philippine News Agency reported that registered voters would participate in the testing process using actual ballots, while no actual transmission of election results would take place during the exercise.
New voting system puts BARMM in the spotlight
The technical preparations come as voters prepare to use a parliamentary electoral system that is new to the region.
Comelec has conducted demonstrations of the voting procedure and automated counting equipment, including mock ballot marking and the proper insertion of ballots into the machines.
The ballot itself is designed to identify political parties, district candidates and sectoral representatives, with candidate photographs included for certain portions of the ballot to make identification easier.
Comelec has also planned an early voting period from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and pregnant voters, while voting hours will extend until 7 p.m.
Security remains a major concern
Beyond the machines, election security remains a major focus.
Garcia recently said authorities were closely monitoring the peace-and-order situation and that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and Philippine Coast Guard were deployed to support election security.
The PNA reported that 31 individuals had been arrested at checkpoints for various violations as of earlier this week, while Comelec said there had been no major election-related incidents apart from one previously reported incident.
The Philippine Army has also deployed thousands of personnel in preparation for the polls, underscoring the importance of maintaining security throughout voting and the subsequent counting process.
The vote could reshape Bangsamoro governance
The September 14 election is being closely watched because its outcome will determine the composition of the first elected Bangsamoro Parliament.
The parliamentary system is intended to give political parties, electoral districts and sectors formal representation in the region’s governing institution.
For BARMM, the election therefore represents more than a change in political leadership—it is a significant milestone in the region’s long-running peace and autonomy process.
With the final testing and sealing now underway, Comelec is effectively entering the last 48-hour stretch before voters make history.
By Monday, the machines tested today will be at the center of a vote that could define the next chapter of Bangsamoro self-governance.
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