Voting at Manila City Jail starts late due to ballot delay
At A Glance
- Less than 1,000 PDLs are expected to vote this year, a lower turnout lower than the previous elections.
Persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Manila City Jail began voting on Monday, May 12, after a delay of more than an hour due to the late arrival of official ballots from Arellano Elementary School.
The ballots arrived at around 8 a.m., delaying the scheduled start of the voting process.
A total of 12 precincts were prepared for the PDLs, with separate voting rooms set up in the male and female dormitories to ensure order and security.
Less than 1,000 PDLs are expected to vote this year, a lower turnout lower than the previous elections.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reiterated that qualified PDLs or those still awaiting trial or convicted of light offenses shall retain their right to vote. Special polling arrangements have been made inside detention facilities nationwide.
Officials are monitoring the process closely to ensure that all eligible PDLs who wish to vote are able to do so before the polling stations close.