Higher Cebu voter turnout

CEBU, Philippines - Only 1.63 million of Cebu’s 1.9 million registered voters have cast their votes during the elections last week, a Commission on Elections official said.

But acting Provincial Election Supervisor Eliseo Labaria said voter turnout for the May 9 polls reached 85.6 percent, which was higher than the past two local elections.

He said voter turnout in 2010 was 77 percent while 80 percent, or 1,446,114 of the 1,788,498 registered voters, showed up at the polling precincts in 2013.

The 2013 figure excludes those from the independent cities of Lapu-Lapu and Cebu.

In Cebu City, 83 percent or 524,850 of 630,003 registered voters cast their ballots last May 9. This was higher than the 81.36 percent in 2013, or 445,576 of 547,681 registered voters. Of Lapu-Lapu City’s 188,815 registered voters, 83.78 percent or 158,190 went to vote.

Labaria, though, said they believe that the actual number of registered voters who did not vote may even be lower since the voter’s list “was not completely cleaned” of double registrants and deceased voters.

He attributed the higher voter turnout to the Comelec –led debates, the quality of candidates, and their platforms.

The presidential debates were strategically held in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to make the elections more “participative.”

“The debates had huge contribution also in making Filipinos more active, participative and visible in this year’s elections,” Labaria said.

He said the quality of the candidates also helped as the people had many choices.  (FREEMAN)