Comelec ready for barangay polls

by WilliaM B. Depasupil ManilaTimes.net

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Wednesday, May 10 all is ready for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) slated on October 30 this year.

“Comelec is 100 percent ready for the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections,” said Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco at the weekly Laging Handa Briefing.

Laudiangco added that 91 million ballots have already been printed, including election returns, statements of votes and certificates of proclamation.

“What is left to be printed are 1.6 million additional ballots for the newly registered voters and for those reactivated voters, which the Comelec can easily finish in three days,” he said.

Laudiangco added that two months before the elections, Comelec will deliver the ballots and other election paraphernalia to their intended destinations in various parts of the country, and conduct training for teachers who will serve as members of the Electoral Board.

Historically, the printing of ballots is completed a month before the scheduled elections.

Of the 91 million ballots already printed, 25 million are for the SK election and 66 million for the regular voters.

Laudiangco said those ages 15 to 30 years old can vote for the SK elections, while those who can vote for the barangay elections are those ages 18 years old and above.

“Even if you are not yet 15 years old now, by October 30 you are 15, you can already register for the SK elections. Also if you are 18 years old now but you will become 18 on October 30, you can register and vote for the barangay elections,” he added.

Laudiangco said the sixday filing of certificate of candidacy (CoC) for the BSKE would be held from August 20 to September 2, noting that the Comelec would utilize off-site venues in areas where there are more CoC filers.

“This early the commission has already issued an order directing all election officers to look for appropriate venues that can accommodate the volume of people during the six-day filing of CoC,” he said. n