Comelec-NIR: Minor issues resolved in final testing of counting machines

TESTING. Women line up to “cast their votes” during the final testing and sealing of automated counting machines at a shopping mall in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, on May 6, 2025. Minor issues were promptly resolved during the province-wide test. (PNA photo by Mary Judaline F. Partlow)

DUMAGUETE CITY — The final testing and sealing (FTS) of automated counting machines (ACMs) for the May 12 elections in Negros Oriental was completed Tuesday with only minor technical issues, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Negros Island Region (NIR).

Comelec-NIR Director Lionel Marco Castillano said the testing went smoothly across the province, and any problems were promptly addressed.

“We are thankful that very minimal issues were reported during the final testing and sealing, which were immediately resolved using our contingency units,” Castillano said.

In Dumaguete City, two ACMs encountered the same issue with the printing of the voter’s receipt. City election officer Ian Macaraya said the malfunctioning machines were quickly replaced with contingency units, which functioned properly and will be used in the affected clustered precincts in Barangays Looc and Buñao.

The faulty machines will be returned to the local Comelec hub for repairs.

Meanwhile, in Mabinay town, a defective USB was reported, but the provincial Comelec office dispatched a technical team that resolved the problem on-site.

Following the FTS, the ACMs will be stored at the respective town and city Comelec offices and deployed to polling centers on election day—or earlier in remote areas requiring advanced delivery.

A total of 1,289 ACMs are designated for use in Monday’s elections, matching the number of clustered precincts in the province.

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