Comelec aims to finish printing SK, bgy. ballots by 2nd week February

Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) aims to finish printing ballots for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls by the second week of February.

The Barangay and SK elections are slated on October 30.

“Kami po ay almost complete na sa lahat ng mga materyales. Ang atin pong mga balota ay ipi-print namin — lahat-lahat ng 91 million ballots plus ‘yung dagdag na mga balota na result ng mismong registration na bago — ng hanggang second week po ng February,” Comelec chairperson George Garcia said in a Laging Handa public briefing.

(We are almost complete with all the materials. We will print the ballots — all 91 million plus additional ballots from the ongoing voter registration — until the second week of February.)

According to the Comelec, the printing of ballots started last year but was halted as the Barangay and SK polls, initially scheduled on December 5, 2022 were postponed to October 30, 2023.

Ballot printing is underway, the poll body said.

Low voter registration

The dismal turnout for the election disheartened Garcia; it was expected that 1.5 to 2 million people would register, but only about 200,000 had done so.

“Katulad po ng ating inaasahan, lagi naman pong ganyan ‘pag nagsisimula ang voter’s registration, ‘yung nag-resume, medyo matumal at sabi nga ay nilalangaw ang ating opisina ng Comelec dahil hindi po ganu’n kadami ang pumupuntang mga kababayan natin despite the fact ‘yung mga patuloy nating panawagan na kung pupwede magparehistro ‘yung mga kabataan, magpa-rehistro ‘yung mga regular na mga botante,” the chairperson said.

(Like what we expected, it’s always like every time the voter registration starts or resumes, it is low and only a few go to Comelec offices despite our continuous appeal for them to register.)

Voter registration started in December last year and will end on January 31.

/MUF/abc