Cotabato city: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced its full readiness to conduct the inaugural Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections scheduled for September 14.

According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec officials assured that all preparations are complete for Monday's electoral process. This includes the final testing and sealing of the automated counting machines (ACMs) at the Cotabato City Institute. Comelec emphasized the importance of proper ballot marking to ensure accurate machine reading. Voters are advised to shade the ovals on their ballots instead of marking them with an X, meeting the minimum 25 percent threshold for shading.

In addition, Comelec addressed minor issues encountered by teachers during ACM testing, assuring that these were resolved and that the testing was crucial for ensuring smooth proceedings on election day. Teachers involved in the process have gained experience that will help avoid complications during the actual voting.

Comelec also reminded candidates to hold their final campaign rallies peacefully and urged citizens to remain vigilant throughout the election period. The commission highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and order, emphasizing that vigilance should continue even after the elections to address potential disputes from unsuccessful candidates.

The BARMM elections will see 80 parliamentary seats contested by candidates, with 2,393,202 registered voters in the region ready to participate in this historic event.