Candidates not allowed to distribute VIS, says Comelec


The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said candidates are not allowed to distribute the voter's information sheet (VIS) to voters.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said the VIS will be distributed by their own people so as not to politicize it.

"We will be distributing the VIS to voters. We don't want this to be politicized. Definitely, the candidates are not allowed to distribute them," he said in a press briefing Thursday, March 24.

"The Comelec will have it's own people...we will be hiring people to distribute the VIS," added Garcia.

"We've already printed the VIS for the entire country and that is now ready for distribution," he said.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said the poll body will release information so voters can check the authenticity of the VIS they received.

"There might be bogus VIS with the wrong precinct assignment as a means of voter suppression," he said.

Based on Republic Act No. 7904, the Comelec must provide all registered voters, through registered mail, with a voter information sheet at least 30 days before an election.

The VIS include the voter’s name, address, the precinct and the place where he is registered, and simplified instructions as to the casting of votes.