COMELEC allows lowered thresholds for early proclamation of local candidates
The local board of canvassers need not finish the canvassing of votes to proclaim local candidates, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) said on Wednesday, May 11.

“We lowered the threshold to allow proclamations,” COMELEC Commissioner George Garcia said during a press a briefing.
The commissioner cited that since Tuesday, May 11, the COMELEC has been granting the requests of local board of canvassers to lower the threshold of the number of votes that they need to count before declaring the winning local candidates.
“We lowered the threshold dahil yung natitira nilang untransmitted result will no longer affect the result of the election (because the remain untransmitted result will no longer affect the result of the election),” he explained.
Garcia cited that this was not done in the 2016 and 2019 elections.
“Mga two elections ago lagi tayo complete proclamation (Two elections ago we always did complete proclamations),” he recounted.
On the other hand, Garcia said the local board of canvassers will not make the request unless sought by the leading candidates.
“A motion can be raised before the board and the board can ask the COMELEC to lower the threshold,” he explained.
So far, the COMELEC has approved the lowering of thresholds in Mandaluyong for the positions of mayor, vice mayor, a member of the House of Representative, councilors for District 1 and 2; Gandara, Samar for mayor, vice mayor, and Sunggunian Bayan member; Naic, Cavite, for vice mayor; Muntinlupa City for mayor, vice mayor, and House representative; and Taguig City for a House representative of the 1st District, mayor, vice mayor and member of the Sangguniang Panglungsod.
Board of canvassers of Buldon, Maguindanao have also requested the lowering of the threshold but was asked by the COMELEC to submit more pertinent documents.