Never forget your sample ballots!

Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) vice presidential candidate and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio issued this friendly reminder to voters, saying that sample ballots can help them exercise their right to suffrage.

“Hindi na nila maalala kung sino yung mga senators na iboboto nila (They forget the senators they’re supposed to vote for),” Duterte-Carpio said, referring to "forgetful" voters during a UniTeam rally at the Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo City on Thursday, Feb. 24.

A sample ballot, she noted, is a piece of paper that lists the corresponding number and surname of the voter’s preferred candidate. Carrying such on election day on May 9 will ensure that voters don't forget who to vote for.

She further explained that sometimes, voters don't always make the most of their ballot by not voting for 12 senatorial candidates.

"Alam niyo po sa study na ginagawa ng pulsers at surveyors lagi po tayong mga botante anim lang ang mga binoboto na senators dahil daw minsan wala silang kopya (According to a study by pulsers and surveyors, voters only end up voting for six senators as they don’t have a sample ballot)," Duterte-Carpio bared.

"Pangalawa, dahil sa haba ng balota natin sa sobrang dami ng pangalan, tinatamad yung mga botante maghanap nung kanilang mga pangalan sa mga senators (Second, since the ballots are too long because of how many names there are, some voters are too lazy to look for the names of their preferred senators),” she said.

Duterte-Carpio then reminded the voters that they are able to vote for 12 candidates.

During the event, the presidential daughter endorsed the UniTeam Senate slate composed of Loren Legarda, Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Jose Pimentel “Jinggoy” Estrada, Herbert Bautista, Mark Villar, Harry Roque, Rodante Marcoleta, Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon, Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II, Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, Sherwin Gatchallian, and Robin Padilla.

“Ang aming senators, nagsasabi silang lahat na meron silang lakas na tumulong sa ating bayan, gagawa ng batas ang mga iyan sa ating Senado (Our senators all say they have the strength to help the country, they will make laws in our senate),” she explained.

“Kaya nire-remind ko po kayong lahat na sa araw po ng ating eleksyon, maghanda po tayo ng ating sample ballot (That’s why I’m reminding you all: on the day of the election, prepare a sample ballot)," Duterte-Carpio added.

Duterte-Carpio is running for the vice presidency in the 2022 polls under the UniTeam banner alongside presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.