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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Comelec says voting to proceed in calamity-hit areas

Comelec says voting to proceed in calamity-hit areas

Published Aug 16, 2023 08:38 am

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that residents from calamity-stricken areas will still be given the chance to vote in the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Oct. 30.

Egay.jpg
In an effort to carry on with their daily routines, residents in the flooded areas resort to using wooden boats, wading through waist-deep waters as they navigate through their everyday lives, at Brgy Frances, Calumpit, Bulacan, August 1, 2023. As a result of the southwest monsoon intensified by Typhoon "Egay," the majority of the 24 municipalities and cities in the province of Bulacan suffered from extensive flooding, leading to the declaration of a state of calamity in the area. (Mark Balmores)

In a press conference, Garcia said that local Comelec offices in such areas have already submitted a list of replacement polling places after some schools that serve as polling places were damaged during the onslaught of previous typhoons that hit the country. 

This submitted list also includes barangays near Taal and Mayon Volcano where residents, even entire barangays have evacuated. In places where there are "bakwits" or evacuees such as Marawi, Garcia said that they will be the ones to bring the polling precincts to the voters.

"Tatandaan ng lahat, kahit po nagkaroon ng kalamidad kahit nagkaroon ng sakuna (Everyone should remember, despite the calamities and disasters), the Comelec will always afford everybody their right to vote," he said. 

"Dapat po ganun (That's what should be done), nobody should be left behind because the right of voting is the right of everybody," he added.


For the said evacuees who some were unable to bring with them their personal documents such as identification cards, Garcia reminded the public that IDs are not a requirement to vote. He explained that in polling precincts, there are the so-called Election Day Computerized Voters Lists (EDCVL) which they can refer to as well as a list of voters' names. 

By 2025, Garcia said that they plan to incorporate photos in the said lists of voters outside the precincts. 

In relation to the BSKE, the period of filing Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) will begin on Aug. 28 until Sept. 2. This will also be the start of the election period. 

Related Tags

BSKE 2023 Commission on Elections (Comelec) comelec chairman george erwin garcia Commission on Elections BSKE
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