Voter instructions to be printed in local dialects

MANILA, Philippines — With the law postponing the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls still not available, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the printing of voter instructions in local dialects.

“The move aims to minimize errors in filling out the ballots,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said yesterday.

In a resolution, the poll body said voter instructions to be displayed in polling precincts must have translations in native dialects.

“The Commission approved the translation of the instructions in native dialects, and these will be posted in all precincts for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October,” the resolution said.

The instructions will be placed in the ballot secrecy folders for every voter to see and understand, Jimenez said.

No Mindanao dialect was included in the resolution as the elections in Mindanao have been postponed due to martial law.

In Luzon and the Visayas, translations are available only for the most widely spoken dialects such as Bicolano, Bisaya, Ilokano, Ilonggo, Kapampangan and Waray.

For the sake of uniformity, all election officers have been advised to use the template or design prepared by the Comelec’s Education and Information Department, which can be downloaded from the agency’s official website.