Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will destroy six million poll ballots initially printed for this year's midterm elections "to eliminate doubts that they might be used in an election or the upcoming election." Comelec Chairperson George Garcia announced that these ballots would undergo an inventory process, be reported to the Commission on Audit (COA), and eventually be destroyed.
According to Philippines News Agency, Chairperson Garcia explained in a press briefing at the Comelec main office in Manila that the destruction of these official ballots is necessary to prevent any misuse. He emphasized that these original ballots could be accepted by voting machines if used, which necessitates their destruction. The ballots in question were initially printed for local absentee voting, overseas voting, test ballots, and specific regions such as Bangsamoro and Caraga.
The announcement follows the temporary suspension of ongoing ballot printing at the National Printing Office (NPO) in Quezon City. This suspension began after the Supreme Court issued temporary restraining orders (TROs) halting Comelec's enforcement of its rulings concerning the disqualification or rejection of the certificates of candidacy (COCs) of five candidates.
Chairperson Garcia indicated that the printing of ballots could resume early next week. He mentioned that the Elections Management System (EMS) is expected to be completed in two to three days, followed by the creation of new ballot faces and serialization.
The suspension and new developments have affected the printing timeline, causing delays. Garcia explained that they have already lost two weeks of the 77-day printing schedule. Despite these setbacks, he assured the public that Comelec is prepared for such situations and has contingency plans in place.
Garcia reaffirmed that the election date of May 12 is fixed as per the Constitution, and there are no plans to postpone it. He stressed that Comelec is committed to managing the situation effectively and ensuring the elections proceed as scheduled.
