MANILA, Philippines — There is no need for an identification card in order to vote, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez said on Wednesday.
Jimenez issued this clarification amid disinformation circulating ahead of the midterm elections set on May 13.
“There is this rumor going around that you need to have a voter certificate in order to vote. You don’t need a voter certification or a voter’s ID in order to vote. Hindi mo kailangan yan,” Jimenez said in a forum.
“In general actually, you don’t need an ID to vote. Magkakaroon lang ng need for ID kapag chinallenge yung identity mo and in which case, you can produce any government issued ID or any valid ID,” he added.
Jimenez also denied reports that there is no ballot secrecy and that one could determine who the other party voted for.
“Ang rumor, there is a means of discovering who a person voted for so that they better vote for the person who is trying to force them to vote someone,” he said.
“In other words, people are saying na walang ballot secrecy. Again, this is not true. There is no means for anyone, not even the Comelec, to determine kung sino ang binoto ng individual voter,” Jimenez added.
The midterm elections for those running for national and local candidates are set on May 13.
The campaign period for senatorial bets started on February 12 while for those seeking a seat in the local areas will start on March 29.
Both campaign periods, however, will end on May 11 or two days before the election day itself. /je