Ballot printing for Bangsamoro plebiscite completed

MANILA, Philippines — The printing of the 2.8 million ballots to be used in the plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) has been completed, according to the Commission on Elections. 

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the printing started on Dec. 7 and was finished after three days. 

“The verification of the ballots was also completed... They will be sent out at the start of the new year,” Jimenez said.

Comelec Commissioner Al Parreño, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. and Bangsamoro Transition Commission chairman Ghazali Jaafar signed a memorandum of agreement yesterday for the conduct of a voter education and information campaign on the plebiscite.

Jimenez said filling out the ballots to be used in the plebiscite is more complicated compared to regular elections because voters have to answer various questions.

”Unlike in the automated elections where ovals will be shaded, here there are no candidates, but ... questions... There are ballots that contain 11 or 12 questions,” Jimenez said.

The plebiscite will be held on Jan. 21 next year in the areas that will comprise the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.The areas include Isabela town in Basilan, Cotabato City and Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit and Pigkawayan in North Cotabato aside from the provinces that compose the ARMM.

A plebiscite will also be conducted on Feb. 6 in 103 other other areas contiguous to the BARMM.

Jimenez gave assurance that the poll body is taking measures to prevent cheating in the plebiscite.

”One of them... is the training of teachers to make sure that if the need arises, they can summon police personnel in the polling places,” he said.