MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is optimistic to have a “healthy” voter turnout in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls in Marawi City on Saturday.
“I don’t think it will dampen their enthusiasm… our belief is that we will have a healthy voter turnout,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said Friday in an interview.
He noted that Mindanao has records of high voter turnouts.
“In the south, it has always been a high voter turnout. They are politically active and very motivated to vote,” the poll body official said.
Jimenez added that the Marawi has been waiting to vote for village and youth leaders.
“Barangay elections are very closely fought, and it is happening in a place, where elections have been suspended twice already,” he said.
There are a total of 50,893 registered voters for the barangay polls while a total of 25,491 are eligible to participate in the SK elections in the city.
Comelec data show that there are a total of 234 who filed their Certificates of Candidacy for Barangay Chairman while another 862 are running for Barangay Kagawad.
On election day, polling centers will be opened from 7 a.m to 3 p.m.
If at 3 p.m. there are still voters within 30 meters in front of the polling place, who have not yet cast their votes, voting shall continue but only to allow said voters to cast their votes as long their names have been listed by the poll clerk.
Counting and canvassing of votes as well as proclamation of winning candidates shall immediately be done after the closing of polls.
At the same time, the poll body said campaigning is already illegal on election day as the last day of the campaign period was last Thursday.
Other prohibited acts on election day include selling, buying, offering, or taking intoxicating liquor; and opening of booths or stalls for the sale of merchandise or refreshments within 30 meters of the polling places.
Also banned on Saturday are giving or accepting free transportation, food, or anything of value; and holding of fairs, cockfights, boxing, or horse races.
Violators will face one to six years imprisonment, removal of right to vote, and disqualification from public office. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
