The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Oriental will be deploying early to remote areas the official ballots to be used in the May 12 elections to ensure no voter is disenfranchised.
Lawyer Eddie Aba, Comelec-Negros Oriental election supervisor, said Friday, May 2, that the official ballots are normally brought to the polling precincts on the day of the elections.
“However, we will have the official ballots transported to remote areas at least one day before the polls so voting can start on time and will not be disrupted,” Aba said.
The ballots will be under tight security, escorted by police and military personnel during transport.
Most towns and cities in the province have opted for early deployment due to the special early voting window – 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. – for senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities.
The polling place should be open at least one hour before voting starts, or at 4 a.m.
Comelec also cited the possibility of weather disruptions as another reason, following forecasts of heavy rainfall in May from PAGASA.
The full shipment of the official ballots for both Negros Oriental and neighboring Siquijor arrived late Thursday night aboard a cargo vessel.
The ballots, totaling 976,185 for Negros Oriental and 81,894 for Siquijor, were packed in 1,289 and 149 boxes, respectively, each box corresponding to a clustered precinct.
The ballots are currently stored at the Comelec’s official cargo hub before being transferred to municipal and city treasurers’ offices for safekeeping until election day.
Boxes of indelible ink also arrived as part of the same shipment.*PNA