BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental received recently the official ballots for the May 12 national and local elections, marking a crucial step in final preparations.
Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria said the ballots are now stored at a warehouse of the Comelec official logistics partner.
Ananoria added that the ballots will be distributed to the local election boards on May 6.
He said that the final testing and sealing of the automated counting machines (ACMs) will depend on the local election officers.
Negros Occidental has a total of 2,009,564 registered voters spread across 662 barangays in 19 municipalities and 13 cities. The province, including its capital of Bacolod City, has a total of 2,484 clustered precincts.
A total of 2,048 ACMs for Negros Occidental, to be used during the May 12 elections, have been delivered, with 351 other ACMs set aside as replacements in case the any of the deployed ACMs break down.
In Negros Oriental, the Comelec will be deploying early at 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 recently 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 in an interview.
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 of 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. (Gilbert Bayoran tvds with PNA reports)