Expanded LAV coverage eyed

CEBU, Philippines — The Commission on Elections is looking at expanding the coverage of the local absentee voting (LAV) to allow more government employees to vote ahead of the elections.

“Gusto namin i-expand, yong mas madaming empleyado ng pamahalaan ang dapat makapag-avail ng local absentee voting,” said Comelec chairman George Garcia over the weekend.

“Lalo na sa health sector. Dapat makaboto sila ng maaga dahil nakadeploy sila kapag may halalan,” Garcia added.

Garcia said that other agencies of the government may send to the Comelec a letter requesting for their employees who have duties during the elections to avail of LAV.

Those who are eligible to avail of LAV are government officials and employees, including members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) as well as members of the media, media practitioners including their technical and support staff who are duly registered voters.

Garcia, however, stressed that those availing of LAV can only cast their vote for national positions such as senator and party-list.

The Comelec previously announced that it intends to automate the conduct of LAV for the first time to expedite the election process.

Garcia said the ballots would be mass-fed to the machines immediately following the closing of the LAV voting hours

The Comelec will be deploying vote counting machines in various sites where the LAV will be conducted. (CEBU NEWS)