The Commission on Elections (Comelec) regional director in the Negros Island Region (NIR) is encouraging the public to take part in its roadshow caravan to learn about the new features of the automated vote-counting machines (ACMs) ahead of next year’s elections.
The ACMs for the roadshow caravan arrived in Negros Occidental and Oriental on Friday, Nov. 29, Comelec-NIR regional director Lionel Marco Castillano said.
The ACMs for Siquijor will be delivered on Saturday, Nov. 30, he added.
The Comelec-NIR oversaw the arrival of the ACMs early Friday and promptly distributed them to various towns and cities, he said.
Also included in the deliveries were ballots and ballot receptacles to be used in the roadshow demonstrations regionwide.
Castillano cited the importance of voters attending the demonstrations to gain firsthand experience with the new ACM features before the May 2025 elections.
Castillano noted that voters unfamiliar with the machines could inadvertently slow the voting process.
Additionally, he announced that a refresher training for election officers and their assistants will take place on Saturday in preparation for the roadshow caravan, which starts on Monday.
The caravan will run from Dec. 2 to Jan. 30, 2025, with schedules being organized for various towns and cities to target barangays, schools, and other institutions, maximizing voter education efforts by Comelec.*PNA