18K affected by failure of elections – Comelec

Comelec Chair Andres Bautista (center) enters his computer passcode for the canvassing of votes for the senatorial and party-list elections at Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. INQUIRER PHOTO

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said a total of 18,504 voters were affected by the declaration of failure of elections in certain areas in the country.

Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim announced the updated number during the ongoing canvassing of votes by the National Board of Canvassers at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Through Resolution No. 10129, the poll body’s en banc on Wednesday first declared a failure of elections in 11 towns in the Visayas and Mindanao, and ordered the conduct of special elections in affected barangays on May 14, Saturday.

The Comelec earlier said failure of elections affected an initial number of 17,657 voters under 52 clustered precincts.

It also declared a failure of elections in more areas in the Visayas and Mindanao late last night.

Causes of failure of elections included threats of violence, absence of board of election inspectors, and lack of official printed ballots. RC/rga