Comelec: No immediate counting of LAV votes

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday clarified that while the local absentee voting (LAV) for the 2019 midterm elections is underway, the votes will only be tallied on the regular election day on May 13.

“The votes will not be counted immediately katulad ng pangkaraniwan. The votes of local absentee voting will be made known on election day kasabay ng iba,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told reporters.

“Again, paalala ulit sa publiko, maglilipana na naman yung mga balita na nanalo na sa ganitong kampo si ganyan, or nanalo na sa ganitong opisina si ganito or si ganyan, huwag tayong maniniwala becasue that information will of course be false,” he added.

LAV is intended for the members of the military, police, government officials, and members of the who may be on duty on election day.

The LAV will run from April 29 to May 1, 2019.

Jimenez said Comelec approved 29,321 LAV applications.

Majority of those who applied are members of the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police and Philippine Air Force. /gsg

READ: Local absentee voting for May 13 polls starts