The document outlines the procedures for final testing and sealing of voting machines. It details the steps election board members and staff must take to set up and test the voting machines, conduct a mock election, close the polls, re-zero the machines, and dispose of the forms from the test. The key steps include setting up the polling place, opening and testing the voting machines, conducting a final testing of the system with sample ballots, closing the mock election and printing reports, and ensuring all materials are securely submitted.

1. FINAL
TESTING
AND
SEALING

3. Purpose

6. At least 3 days
before FTS, EB,
DESO and
Support Staff will
set the polling
place.

7. At least 3 days
before FTS, EB,
DESO and
Support Staff will
set the polling
place.
Install hand sanitation

8. At least 3 days
before FTS, EB,
DESO and
Support Staff will
set the polling
place.
Post at the door

9. At least 3 days
before FTS, EB,
DESO and
Support Staff will
set the polling
place.
Post PCVL at the door

10. At least 3 days
before FTS, EB,
DESO and
Support Staff will
set the polling
place.
Designate holding Area

11. At least 3 days
before FTS, EB,
DESO and
Support Staff will
set the polling
place.
Provide trash can

12. PROCEDURE OF THE FTS

13. HEALTH & SAFETY RULES SHALL
BE OBSERVED AT ALL TIMES IN
ALL ELECTION ACTIVITIES
FTS Voters shall be limited to 5 persons only and the
number of watchers shall be limited to five. Watchers may
also serve as FTS Voters.

14. 1. Wearing of
face mask;

15. 2. One-meter
physical
distancing;

16. 3. Frequent
disinfection of
hands;

17. 4. Frequent
disinfection of
regularly-touched
surfaces;

18. 5. Proper cough
and sneezing
etiquette;

19. 6. Use of own pen
in signing
election papers or
documents

20. PRELIMINARIES TO FTS
STEP
1
Explain to those present the purpose of FTS.
STEP
2
Show to the public that the VCM box is sealed.
STEP
3
Remove the sealing sticker of the VCM Box.
STEP
4
Open the VCM Box.

21. PRELIMINARIES TO FTS
STEP
5
Check whether the following are inside the VCM
Box.
 VCM
 Power cord of the VCM and Battery cable
 Main SD and back-up SD cards already installed
 Rolls of thermal paper inside the VCM box
 The checklist of the contents of the VCM Box
 The 3 PINs for operating the VCM, 3 iButtons, & 3 pins for re
zeroing
 USB modem with SIM card and 1 contingency SIM card
 4 cleaning sheets
 20 marking pens
 Sealing sticker

22. PRELIMINARIES TO FTS
STEP
6
Retrieve the VCM from its box
STEP
7 Show to the public that the VCM slots labeled A
and B, where the main and back-up SD cards are
individually stored , are sealed. These slots shall
remain sealed throughout the FTS procedure.
STEP
8
Place the VCM properly on top of the ballot box.

23. PRELIMINARIES TO FTS
STEP
9 Open the Thermal paper printer cover and ensure
that the roll of official thermal paper is properly
installed, and close it thereafter.
STEP
10 Retrieve the battery cables inside the VCM box,
Connect the cables to the battery and Connect the
other end of the battery cable to the VCM DC
power port.

24. PRELIMINARIES TO FTS
STEP
11
Connect the power adaptor to the AC power port of
the VCM and plug the other end of the adaptor to
the electrical outlet. Turn On the VCM to display
the Device Information and the Home Screen.
STEP
12 After turning the VCM, check the date and time at
the top left corner of the screen. If the date and/or
time is incorrect, perform the following;

25. PRELIMINARIES TO FTS
STEP
12 a. The EB Chairperson shall place his/her iButton
on top of the iButton security key receptacle and
apply a slight pressure thereon.
b. A message ”SELECT THE PROFILE TO
AUTHENTICATE” and the role of the EBs will be
displayed on the screen.
c. Select the CHAIRPERSON profile. The VCM will
then display the message “INPUT YOUR PIN.”
Enter role PIN of the EB Chairperson.

26. PRELIMINARIES TO FTS
STEP
12
d. From the election menu, select the UTILITIES
option and choose CHANGE SYSTEM DATE AND
TIME
e. The system will display message “INPUT PIN
FOR EB CHAIRPERSON TO CONFIRM THE
EXECUTION OF CHANGE SYSTEM DATE AND
TIME.” Enter the role pIN of the EB Chairperson.
f. The screen to change the date and time will be
displayed with CANCEL and CHANGE button.
PRESS the DOWN or UP arrows to adjust the date
and time.

27. PRELIMINARIES TO FTS
STEP
12 g. Press the CHANGE button. A message prompt
CHANGE DATE AND TIME COMPLETED
SUCCESSFULLY, will appear with DONE button.
h. Press DONE button to return to the UTILITIES
sub menu.
i. Press the X mark in the bottom left corner of the
screen to return to the election menu.

28. PRELIMINARIES TO FTS
STEP
13 After correcting the time and date of the VCM, the
Certified IT capable EB Member shall perform the
following VCM DIAGNOSTIC procedures:
a. From the election menu , select the
DIAGNOSTICS option
b. The VCM will display the DIAGNOSTICS Menu.
Clisk the rounded-arrow button to scroll down the
screen. Select RUIN ALL option.

29. PRELIMINARIES TO FTS
STEP
13
After choosing RUN ALL, the VCM will then display
the message AUDIO DIAGNOSTICS test for
speaker and headphone tests.
 Headphone
 Cast and return
buttons
 Ethernet
diagnostics
 Transmission
device
 Battery/power
 Touchscreen
 Scanner
 USB Ports
 iButton
 SD MEMORY

30. PRELIMINARIES TO FTS
STEP
14 After all the components have been tested, the
VCM will automatically print the Diagnostic Report
Detach the printed diagnostic report and place
the same inside the envelope for A17-TS
provided for the purpose.

31. PRELIMINARIES TO FTS
STEP
14 After printing the diagnostic report, if some tests
were skipped or unsuccessful, the VCM shall
display SOME ACTIVITIES WERE COMPLETED
SUCCESSFULLY
UNSUCCESSFUL ACTIVITIES: (number)
SKIPPED ACTIVITIES: (number)
With DONE button. Click the DONE button to
return to the diagnostic Menu.
Then click the X button in the bottom left part of
the screen to return to the election menu.

32. OPEN VOTING
STEP
15
Select OPEN VOTING. Input PIN for EB
Chairperson. Enter PIN. Assign Names if data is
available.
STEP
16
The messages OPEN POLLS and GENERATING
THE REPORT.. SAVING THE
REPORT…PRINTING THE REPORT…(the report
will show zero vote) This is the Initialization Report
. Press DONE.
Detach the Initialization Report. Affix
signatures thereon. Place it in envelope for
A17-TS.

33. OPEN VOTING
STEP
18
From the election Menu, press the GO TO
VOTING. VCM will print status report. Press
DONE.
STEP
19 VCM is now ready to accept ballots.
Randomly choose 5 persons from among
those present who will accomplished 10
ballots.

34. CLOSE VOTING
After 10 voters have cast their votes, perform
CLOSE VOTING
POLL CLERK shall place the iButton security
key to the receptacle . Select the profile to
authenticate (poll clerk and third member)
VCM shall display election menu. Choose Close
voting. Confirm execution of Close Voting enter
PIN of poll clerk and EB member. Press Next.

35. CLOSE VOTING
Add digital signatures. Chairman, poll clerk, EB
member.
The VCM will display CHANGING THE VOTING
MACHINE STATE TO CLOSED. VCM will print 8
copies of election returns. Detach ERs and place it
in the envelope.
After printing 8 ERs DO NOT TRANSMIT and
NO printing of 22 copies of ERs (open thermal
printer cover to skip)

36. CLOSE VOTING
After skipping, VCM will print statistical report.
Select done after closed polls.

37. RE-ZERO
Chairperson will re-zero the VCM. Select utilities
and choose RE-ZERO. Input re-zero PIN. Select
YES to delete casts ballots. The VCM will print the
Re-Zero Report. The VCM will shut-down. Press
OK.

38. MANUAL VERIFICATION
Retrieve the FTS ballots from the ballot box, verify
the ballots if there is over voting. If not, chairperson
will read thee names of candidates and the offices
they were voted in the order in which they appear
thereon.
Poll clerk shall record on the Manual ER. Then
determine the total number of votes after finishing
the 10 ballots. Sign the manual ER.

39. DISPOSITION OF THE FORMS
Ensure that the VCM is properly sealed and secured
inside the VCM Box.
After sealing, the VCM box, ballot box, and external
battery should be left inside the polling place or
secured room in voting center.

40. DISPOSITION OF THE FORMS
Submit to the EO the envelope for counted test
ballots, ERs and other reports (A17-TS) containing the
following and seal the same with a paper seal (CEF
no.. A12)
 Diagnostic Report
 Initialization Report
 8 ERs
National/Local
 Manual ER
 Counted Ballots