La Carlota: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has assured displaced voters near Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Occidental that they will still be able to cast their votes in the upcoming May 12 midterm elections. Comelec Chairperson George Garcia emphasized that voters affected by the volcano's eruption will not face disenfranchisement.

According to Philippines News Agency, Garcia stated that the Comelec is committed to holding elections even for a small number of voters and plans to set up polling precincts within evacuation centers to facilitate voting for displaced individuals. This announcement was made after Garcia's visit to the La Carlota Evacuation Center in Negros Occidental.

Garcia also clarified that there are no plans to postpone elections in areas affected by Mt. Kanlaon's eruption. He stressed the importance of ensuring that all registered voters can participate in the electoral process on May 12, regardless of the current challenges.

Currently, five areas impacted by Kanlaon's unrest - La Castellana, Bago City, La Carlota City, Pontevedra, and Murcia - are under Alert Level 3, with a total of 16,991 registered voters displaced in these locations.