The Commission on Elections (Comelec) expects a higher voter turnout for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) this year compared to the previous polls conducted in 2015 and 2018.

In an interview on Monday, Oct. 30, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said they are hoping for a 75 percent voter turnout since the range in 2015 and 2018 was between 70 to 71 percent. 

"Ngayon po walang kadahilanan na hindi tayo makaboto sapagkat mahaba naman po yung bakasyon ngayon. Yung iba siguro kahit magbabakasyon sa mga probinsiya nila, sigurado makakaboto dahil may mga family reunion (Now there's no reason not to vote because there's a long break. Perhaps others who are taking vacations in their province for sure will have a chance to vote because of family reunions)," he said.

"Therefore inaasahan natin na mas tataas ang bilang ng mga boboto ngayong taon (Therefore we are expecting that a higher voter turnout this year)," he added. 

For BSKE, a total of 91,094,822 individuals will be voting from 42,001 Barangays in 149 cities and 1,485 municipalities.

They will cast their votes in 37,341 voting centers with 201,793 clustered precincts with 605,379 members of electoral boards (excluding Department of Education Supervisor Officials and Support Staff).

For Sangguniang Barangay, to be elected are 42,001 Punong Barangay positions and 294,007 Members.

For Sangguniang Kabataan, to be elected are 42,001 SK Chairperson positions and 294,007 member positions.

Garcia reminded voters that they don't need to show any identification cards when they vote but are advised to bring one to prove their identity in case anyone challenges or casts doubt. He added that a cedula is not a government-issued ID and therefore cannot be used to prove identity.

No medical tests or Covid-19 tests are required to vote.

Voter situation

Garcia stated that the voting situation in the country has been smooth except for some incidents of violence that happened in other parts of the country. Garcia urged voters not to be discouraged by these to prevent them from voting. 

In Barangay Bugawas, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, two were killed in a shooting incident while four others were wounded. 

According to the report provided by Garcia, the fatalities were found dead lying on the side of the road and had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The other victims were rushed to Dinaig District Hospital for medical attention.

On the other hand, official ballots in two precincts were destroyed in Puerto Princesa Pilot Elementary School after a group of individuals forcibly took them, The individuals have been detained.

Garcia said that the Electoral Board with the guidance of the local Election Officer (EO) and the Provincial Election Supervisors (PES) voter's names will be listed first and after 3 p.m., ballots from other precincts that have not been used will be employed.

Pending cases

In a press conference, Comelec Spokesman John Rex Laudiangco disclosed that based on Comelec's records, the number of cases for illegal campaigning and premature campaigning is now at 220. So far, vote-buying cases is now at 27. After lunch, Comelec will file an additional 60 cases of premature campaigning and illegal campaigning.

Disqualification cases may be filed before a candidate gets proclaimed. Yet for an election offense, Comelec has five years to file criminal cases before the Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Comelec recently released a list of 241 candidates who are subject to the orders of suspension of proclamation.

Garcia has explained that even if a candidate wins and a suspension order has not been issued against them yet they have a pending case filed, they will still be under the jurisdiction of Comelec and the poll body can still remove them.   

Garcia said that they have issued guidelines to the Board of Canvassers (BOC) on how to accomplish a Certificate of Proclamation if a winning candidate is facing a suspension order since they have pending cases before the poll body.