Final testing, sealing of vote counting machines begins 

The final testing and sealing of vote counting machines that will be used in the May 9 elections started on Monday — a procedure to ensure that the machines are ready for use.

Teachers who will serve as board of election inspectors (BEIs) handle the units themselves, a way to test their readiness for the polls, after trainings and with a guidelines book provided for them by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

According to poll chief Andres Bautista, this is a second round of checking the machines, after they underwent the pre-logic and accuracy test (pre-LAT) at their rented warehouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

"Ang ating mga board of election inspectors mismo—ang ating mga guro—ang siya mismong nagte-test kung ang ating mga makina ay ready na," he said.

Comelec NCR director Temie Lambino added, "[This] is to find out the accuracy of all VCMs, and if ever there are malfunctioning [units], we can replace them immediately, or any parts of the VCM."

The procedure will be conducted in different parts of the country up to Saturday, May 7. 

BEIs show initialization report that must be printed after opening VCM. Said report must show 0 votes. pic.twitter.com/n7KDzXV7t5

— R-A. Dioquino (@AicaDioquino) May 2, 2016

In Metro Manila, some 2,600 clustered precincts have conducted their FTS, or final testing and sealing.

Bautista oversaw the FTS at Araullo High School in Taft Avenue, Manila, on Monday. The school houses 17 clustered precincts.

Minor problems were encountered at the FTS conducted in Clustered Precinct No. 1150, which is part of Barangay 663 of District V.

FTS here at Cluster # 1150. VCM initially didn't want to accept the 1st ballot. pic.twitter.com/WX27gecUw9

— R-A. Dioquino (@AicaDioquino) May 2, 2016

But it turns out, the VCM was just placed on top of the ballot box the wrong way. pic.twitter.com/3yt187mYVj

— R-A. Dioquino (@AicaDioquino) May 2, 2016

During the FTS there, the first ballot was stuck while being fed into the machine. The situation called for the assistance of a technician from technology provider Smartmatic.

As it turned out, the VCM was placed the wrong way. After rearranging the unit, all 10 ballots were accepted and read.

The machine was then able to print receipts, as well as election returns.

During the FTS, the BEIs will unpack the VCM, which will come with its cables, an emergency battery pack, and iButtons for the BEIs' digital signatures.

The SIM cards and dongle to be used for transmission are also included. The SD cards are already in their designated slots of the machines, with safety plastic locks.

Other materials are also enclosed in the package, including 21 rolls of thermal paper for initialization reports, voting receipts, and election returns. One of these rolls must already be in the machine.

The VCM also comes with 12 marking pens that will be lent to voters for shading their ballots, as well as 10 test ballots for the procedure.

The unit will be set up on the ballot box and ran the way it would be on election day.

A random manual audit is also conducted. —KBK, GMA News