Comelec posts ballot templates on websites

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has posted images of official ballots for the May 13 midterm polls on its website for those curious about how their ballots will look like.

According to Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, the “ballot faces” for the coming polls are available at www.comelec.gov.ph.

“It is not required (by law), but we want the public to be able to see the ballots for themselves, ahead of election time,” he said.

Jimenez added this will “allow them (public) more opportunities to study their options and to familiarize themselves with the ballot itself,” he added.

Up for grabs in the coming polls are 18,879 seats, including 12 for senator; 60 seats at the House of Representatives allowed for party-list  groups; 243 for district congressman; 81 each for governor and vice governor; 780 provincial board members; 1,634 each for mayor and vice mayor; 13,544 members of city/municipal council. 

The Comelec has estimated that it will take a voter at least 10 minutes to cast his or her vote.  

Over the weekend, Jimenez reported that of the 63,662,481 ballots needed for the coming elections, a total of 11,346,352 ballots have been printed. 

Comelec had adjusted the timeline for the verification, certification and posting of the Posted Computerized Voters List (PCVL).

Based on Comelec Resolution No. 10500, the poll body had reset from Feb. 7 to March 25 the new deadline for the Verification and Certification of the PCVL.

On the other hand, the new deadline for the posting of the Certified PCVL is March 29, moved from Feb. 12.

The resolution showed the timeline was affected by the delay in deployment of the continuous forms needed by the field offices in the printing of PCVL.

Under the law, the PCVLs must be posted in the Offices of the Election Officer and in the bulletin board of each city/municipal hall 90 days before election day.