MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday reiterated that distribution of sample ballots with names of candidates is prohibited on election day.
With this, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez noted that sample ballots should be blank or should contain fictitious names.
“The sample ballots should not bear any names but if it has names, it should be names of fake candidates,” he added.
The poll body official also stressed that the area where the distribution of such ballots does not matter.
“Giving sample ballots (with names of candidates) are illegal. It doesn’t matter how close it is or not the polling precinct,” Jimenez told reporters in a press briefing.
He urged the electorates to report such illegal acts, though it would not mean automatic disqualification for the candidates featured on the sample ballot.
“Disqualification is not automatic. You can report them, and we can set the process to determine who was really spreading such,” Jimenez said.
“We want these people to stop, and we will determine accountability,” he added. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
