Comelec sees high voter turnout in Negros Occidental

Map of Negros Occidental | INQIRER.net

BACOLOD CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expecting a higher turnout of voters on election day, May 9 compared to the 2019 midterm elections.

Acting Negros Occidental Provincial Elections Supervisor Roberto Salazar said on Sunday, May 8, more voters would cast their votes because of the heated national campaigns.

Negros Occidental, which has 1,946, 639 registered voters, is the sixth highest voting area in the country.

Salazar said they are all set for Monday’s polls and have already replaced 17 defective vote counting machines (VCMs).

Among the defects of the 17 VCMs were failure to scan, ballot jams, misreading of ballots, and damaged printers.

The defective VCMs that were sent to the nearest Regional VCM Repair Hub in Cebu City were expected to arrive back in Negros Occidental late Sunday, Salazar said.

Negros Occidental has 50 contingency VCMs while Bacolod City has two in case of any breakdown on election day.

Salazar said security requirements for the voting centers have been deployed. Quick Reaction Teams of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines are also in place, he said.

/MUF