By Leslie Ann Aquino
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has authorized the opening of the ballot boxes used in the 2016 polls and the transfer of its contents in preparation for the May 13 midterm polls.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
"There is a need to open the ballot boxes currently in the possession of the city or municipal treasurers containing election forms and documents used in the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections, and transfer the contents in order that said ballot boxes may be utilized for the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections," the Comelec said in Resolution No. 10515.
The poll body, however, said that the ballot boxes to be opened should not be involved in any election protest or official investigation.
In the resolution, the Comelec stipulated the following procedures and conditions in opening the ballot boxes:
Each city or municipality where the ballot boxes are to be opened shall be undertaken by the City or Municipal Treasurer and the City or Municipal Election Officer.
The proceedings shall be public and shall be held in the place, date, and time as indicated in the Notice.
It shall be conducted during office hours and shall be completed on or before April 5.
The ballot boxes shall be examined thoroughly to determine which will be re-used in the May 13 polls and which shall be used as storage ballot boxes.
“The ballot boxes that are more damaged and appear to be unfit to be reused shall be used as the storage ballot box,” the Comelec said.
It added that for every four ballot boxes opened, one of them will be used as the storage ballot box.
“The storage ballot box shall contain the contents of all four ballot boxes,” said the COMELEC.
The contents of ballot boxes set for transfer should be wrapped in Kraft paper or other appropriate material, added the poll body.
“(This is) to ensure that the contents of the ballot boxes are not mingled with one another,” the Resolution read.