Minor issues solved in final testing, sealing of ACMs in Negros Oriental

TESTING. Women line up to “cast their votes” during the final testing and sealing of automated counting machines at the Robinsons Place shopping mall in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Tuesday (May 6, 2025). (PNA photo by Mary Judaline F. Partlow)

DUMAGUETE CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) here said the final testing and sealing (FTS) of automated counting machines (ACMs) to be used in Negros Oriental for the May 12 elections went smoothly on Tuesday.

Comelec-Negros Island Region (NIR) director Lionel Marco Castillano said that except for minor issues, no significant problems were reported across the province during the simultaneous activities.

“We are thankful that very minimal issues were reported during the final testing and sealing which were immediately addressed with the availability of contingency units,” Castillano said.

In this capital city, two ACMs experienced the same problem in the printing of the taped receipt intended for the voter.

City election officer Ian Macaraya said the two units were immediately replaced with contingency ACMs, which performed without any issues.

These replacements will be used for the clustered precincts affected in Barangays Looc and Buñao.

Macaraya said the two defective units will be stored at the official hub for repair.

In Mabinay town, one USB was reported defective but the Comelec provincial office immediately deployed a technical team to solve the issue.

Castillano said after the FTS, the ACMs will be returned to the Comelec offices in the towns and cities and will be deployed on election day or a day earlier in remote areas.

A total of 1,289 ACMs will be used during Monday’s polls, equivalent to the number of clustered voting precincts in the province. /apl