Comelec suspends ballot printing for barangay, SK polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has suspended the printing of official ballots pending a decision on whether to postpone the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls set on Oct. 31.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said yesterday the ballot printing at the National Printing Office (NPO) was stopped on Friday after President Duterte declared that he was supporting the rescheduling of the polls.

“It was considered a prudent course of action, considering both House and the Senate had already expressed similar leanings,” Jimenez said in a text message.

He added if by Sept. 1 the Comelec will have no confirmation of postponement, the printing will resume.

Genevieve Guevarra, head of Comelec Printing Committee, said they have produced more than 411,000 official ballots for Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur since printing started on Aug. 21.

Guevarra said in case the elections would not be moved and they decide to resume printing by Sept. 1, the NPO would finish printing by Oct. 24.

“The ballots already printed will not be wasted because we can still use them when the elections actually happen,” she added.

Around 85 million official ballots, amounting to P255 million or P3 per ballot, will be needed for the synchronized elections. 

Some 30 million of the ballots are for SK.