BY the time this piece sees print, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will have completed the end-to-end test of the full automation system with transparency audit/count (FASTrAC) scheduled for Oct. 29. This involves the integration of the automated counting machines (ACMs), the overseas voting and counting system (OVCS), and canvassing and consolidation system (CCS) servers with the secure electronic transmission system (SETS).

Voting with the use of ACMs will be done at the Comelec's Biñan warehouse, which will simulate the voting at polling precincts on election day. The OVCS will be used to simulate voting by overseas Filipinos and the counting of votes at the Chairman's Hall at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila. The CCS servers on the 4th floor of the same building will receive the transmissions from the ACMs and OVCS through the SETS.