Comelec expects voter turnout in BOL plebiscite to exceed 75%

MANILA, Philippines — The voter turnout for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite may exceed 75 percent expected  as the Commission on Election (Comelec) continues to record high number of votes cast.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said on Wednesday that, so far, the lowest voter turnout is from the city of Cotabato.

“Ang pinakamababa sa tingin ko is Cotabato City with only 54.22 percentage turnout. As for the rest of the provinces, medyo matataas (I think the lowest will be in Cotabato City, with only 54.22 percentage turnout. As for the rest of the provinces, the turnout is high),” Jimenez told reporters in a phone interview.

“Ang pinakababa sa ibang probinsya is 80.2 sa Sulu, na nakareport sa akin (The lowest in other provinces is 80.2 in Sulu based on the reports I received),” he added.

Jimenez said the canvassing of votes in other provinces that participated in the BOL are still ongoing.

The certificate of canvass for Cotabato City is expected to arrive at the Comelec headquarters in Manila on Wednesday afternoon.

READ: National canvassing of votes for BOL plebiscite postponed anew

No data has been given yet to Jimenez about the province of Tawi-Tawi and the city of Isabela, but he said the average percentage of voter turnout may breach the 75 percent expected rate.

“Wala pa akong data from Tawi-Tawi and Isabela City, pero mukhang kung iaaaverage mo ito, talagang lalampas tayo ng 75 percent (I have not received data from Tawi-Tawi and Isabela City, but it looks like the average would really exceed 75 percent) ,” he said. /ee

READ: 75% BOL plebiscite turnout seen