Cotabato city: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to conduct mock polls this Saturday as part of the preparation efforts for the upcoming Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) scheduled for October.

According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco announced that the mock polls will take place in several towns within Lanao del Sur and Tawi-Tawi. Laudiangco assured that both the Commission and the Electoral Boards are fully prepared for the event. Approximately 400 registered voters from eight barangays across four cities and municipalities in Lanao del Sur and Tawi-Tawi will participate.

In Lanao del Sur, the mock polls will include voters from Barangays Sagonsongan and Dulay in Marawi City, as well as Barangays Bayabao Poblacion and Dilimbayan in Butig. Meanwhile, in Tawi-Tawi, the polls will be held in Barangays Tubig-Boh and Ungus-Ungus in Bongao, and Barangays Tubig Indangan and Bagid in Simunul.

Furthermore, the canvassing of votes will be managed by the Regional Board of Canvassers (RBOC) and will occur at the Office of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Election Director, located at the Bangsamoro Government Center Compound in Cotabato City.

Laudiangco articulated that these mock polls are crucial for testing the entire voting, counting, transmission, and canvassing processes that will be employed during the official elections on October 13, 2025. He emphasized that the event will also serve to refine the management of various election day processes, including voting time and motion, operation of Voters Assistance Desks, locating names in the voter lists, transmission, and troubleshooting of the automated counting machines.