Reprinting of defective ballots may finish this week, Comelec says

MANILA, Philippines — Reprinting of defective ballots may be completed within the week, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said Wednesday.

The Comelec finished the printing of the 67.4 million official ballots for the May 9 elections on April 2. However, a number of ballots need to be reprinted after being classified as defective.

READ: Comelec completes printing of ballots ahead of target date

“‘Yung printing ng official ballots, tapos na. Pero ‘pag tapos na ‘yung official ballots, dadaan pa sa verification. So, sa verification, may mga reprint tayo,” Casquejo said during the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms’ hearing.

(The printing of ballots is already done. But once the ballots are printed, they will undergo verification. Under verification, there are some ballots that need to be reprinted.)

“So, sa ngayon, napag-alaman ko, kakaunti na lang ‘yung reprint (Currently, I learned that only a few are needed to be reprinted). So, we are expecting to finish the printing—the reprinting of defective ballots within this week. Kung kakayanin natin (If we can), within this week,” he added.

A defective ballot contains discoloration or unnecessary marks which were incurred during the printing, said Casquejo.

As of April 6, there are 224,000 defective ballots that will be destroyed.

Voter precinct finder

Meanwhile, Casquejo said that the voter precinct finder will be activated this week as well.

During the same hearing, ACT Teachers Party-list Representative France Castro raised that she cannot access the precinct finder.

According to Casquejo, the Comelec hosted the precinct finder before which was then transferred to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

READ: Comelec: DICT finalizing online precinct finder

“So, sa DICT po nagkaroon po po sila ng test or whatever test na sinasabi nila para hindi po ma-hack ulit ‘yung ating precinct finder,” Casquejo responded.

(So, the DICT ran some tests so the precinct finder will not be hacked.)

READ: Comelec to limit data on poll precinct finder to prevent another leak

“So, hopefully, baka ma-up na ‘yun (it will be up) this week. Pero we will still follow up DICT regarding the hosting of the precinct finder,” he said.

Casquejo likewise shared that the distribution of voter’s information sheets has already begun and they are hoping for it to be accomplished a week before the May 9 polls at the latest.

READ: We will not allow terrorism in May 9 polls – Duterte

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