Comelec set to produce new ballot face templates

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to produce new ballot face templates this week as part of its compliance with the temporary restraining orders (TROs) issued by the Supreme Court favoring disqualified national and local candidates for the May 12 midterm elections.

“On Tuesday, Jan. 21, the Comelec will generate new 1,667 ballot face templates and serialization of the same afterwards at the Comelec Warehouse, FTA Holding Inc., Laguna Technopark Annex in Biñan, Laguna,” the Comelec said in a statement.

Before that, the poll body said the trusted build of the automated election system (AES) would have to be conducted first tomorrow at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila.

Last Monday, the SC issued five TROs against the Comelec for the declaration of nuisance candidates and cancellation of certificates of candidacy of five political aspirants: Subair Mustapha for senator, Charles Savellano (representative of Ilocos Sur), Chito Balintay (governor of Zambales), Edgar Erice (representative of Caloocan City) and Florendo Ritualo (councilor of San Juan City).

The move resulted in the suspension of the printing of official ballots by the Comelec.

As to the latest SC order to include the names of Marie Grace David for vice mayor of Limay, Bataan; Mary Dominique Oñate (mayor of Palompon, Leyte) and Aldrin Sta. Ana (mayor of Bocaue, Bulacan) in the official ballots, the poll body said this could be easily implemented.

“The supplementary changes necessitated by the three recent TROs could be promptly effected just before the conduct of the rescheduled trusted build and reprinting of official ballots next week,” the Comelec noted, as it expressed hope that its Law Department can add the names of these eight political aspirants after tomorrow’s trusted build.

The poll body stressed that it is still in the process of carrying out the required changes in the AES, election management system, consolidated canvassing system and online voting and counting system.

“The Comelec intends to restart ballot production at the soonest possible time to mitigate and recoup lost ballot printing time,” the Comelec said.