The Commission on Elections gives media a preview of their finalization for the ballot face template and some technical workings of Miru's automated counting machines, January 5, 2025 in Binan, Laguna. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday continued gearing up for the May elections this year, providing a sneak peak of its operations in Laguna ahead of the printing of ballots on Monday. 

Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco gave a walkthrough of their finalization for the ballot face template and some technical workings of Miru's automated counting machines. 

Laudiangco said Comelec prepared 1,667 ballot face templates for the ACM. 

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"Kada munisipyo magkakaiba ng balota at mayroong mga munisipyo at siyudad na multiple councilor districts. So accounted na rin yung 1,667 in all. Ganoon karaming balota ang naka-imprenta ng Comelec," he said. 

"May distinct serial number kada balota… Yun ang last stage bago tayo mag-imprenta ng balota," he added. 

Comelec said they would not include the names of those they already disqualified and have declared as nuisance candidates. 

Meanwhile, the ACMs will only be activated and synced through the USBs assigned to them. 

"Dapat magsi-sync sila kasi ang gine-generate na face templates, yung gine-generate na balota ni NPO, magkaka-sync lahat. So kung titingnan mo, baka iniisip ng iba, kumuha ka lang ng printer, hindi siya ganoon," the Comelec spokesperson said. 

Aside from these, the Comelec also showed the pre-election logic and accuracy tests for the ACMs. These machines will be sent out to different polling precincts nationwide and will be used by the electoral board for training and familiarization.

Laudiangco said Comelec "loads" the ACM's program through encrypted USBs. 

"Blangko yang ACM. Mayroon lang maliit na harddrive para i-run ang diagnostics and all. Functionality. Pero lahat ng program noon, yung nabanggit ko. Nasa USB, nandoon ang configuration. Yun ang utak ng ACM. Yun ang tine-test nila dito at nilo-load nila ang gagamitin na program," he explained.

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