Polls in Philippines’ Muslim region to push through despite ballot issues
Garcia noted that under the law, if more than 50 percent of votes are for NOTA, a special election will have to be held in Bangsamoro
MANILA, the Philippines (MNTV) — The Philippines’ Commission on Elections (Comelec) has assured voters that the Oct. 13 Bangsamoro Muslim region’s parliamentary elections would push through despite the postponed printing of official ballots, reports ABS-CBN.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the ballot printing was postponed pending the redistribution of seats earlier allocated to the province of Sulu, which rejected in 2019 the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
Garcia noted that Parliament Bill No. 351, which amends the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 58 to address the reallocation issue, is still on the third and final reading.
While the commission has more than 50 days before the October 13 elections, it will need 12 days to reconfigure the ballots, along with other issues such as re-allocation of election paraphernalia.
He said another contentious issue that should be addressed was the “None of The Above” or NOTA option in the ballot under the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, which raised a few concerns.
Garcia noted that under the law, if more than 50 percent of votes are for NOTA, a special election will have to be held.
He noted that if NOTA gets less than 50 percent, the second placer wins, which also raises a legal issue following a recent decision of the Supreme Court.
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