More than 84,000 uniformed personnel, government officials and employees, and members of the media are set to cast their votes ahead of the May 9 polls as the local absentee voting starts on Wednesday, April 27.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said over 80 voting precincts will open for the local absentee voters.
Only government officials and personnel, including members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, as well as members of the media are allowed by law to avail of local absentee voting.
According to the Comelec, out of the 93,698 local absentee voter applicants, only 9,341 have been approved by the poll body.
Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said the poll body rejected applicants who are not yet registered voters and those who have inactive statuses because of failing to take part in the past two elections.
“Kaya hindi sila na-approve yun pala hindi naman pala talaga sila registered from the very start as a voter. And yung iba naman kaya naman na-deny yung kanilang application to become a local absentee voter dahil hindi pala talaga sila botante dahil deactivated na pala yung kanilang registration. Hindi nila napansin na dalawang eleksyon na pala sila na hindi nakakaboto,” Garcia said.
Absentee voters will only vote for the president, vice president, 12 senators, and one party-list group.
Local absentee voting ends Friday, April 29. -Report from Karen Villanda/gc-gb
