Increase in number of unopposed bets cause low turnout in the May ’18 polls

CEBU, Philippines — The increase in the number barangays where there was only one candidate for village chief caused why a vote-rich province like Cebu had a low turnout in the recent polls, said the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano reported that 205 barangays in the province, including the highly urbanized cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu, have candidates for barangay captain running unopposed.

The uncontested positions for councilors and SK have not been consolidated yet.

Castillano explained that the Cebuanos who learned that the candidates in their barangays were unopposed may have chosen not to vote during the May 14 polls, since the election results have already been decided even before the elections are over.

In earlier interview, the provincial election supervisor explained that one reason for the lessened competition especially in the small barangays is the anti-political dynasty clause which prevents interested individuals to run for public office if they are related, within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, to any incumbent elected national official or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal or barangay officials in the locality where she or he seeks to be elected.

This case of low-voters turnout is not isolated in Cebu only, but also in the other parts of the country according to Castillano.

“Not only ni sa Cebu ni-us-us for the same reason,” he told reporters.

As per the COMELEC assessment, the voters’ turnout in the recent election is only 74.74 percent for the barangay and 71.62 percent for the SK.

In the previous elections, the voter turnout never goes below 80 percent. In the previous national elections, Cebu has a turnout of 85.6 percent of the 2.8 million Cebu voters.

The lawyer further stated that in areas where competition for an electoral position is tight, the candidates normally urge the supporters to take action and vote to support their bets. This scenario results into high voter turnout.

“Mas init, mas daghang mobotar,” he said.

For the commission, the political disinterest among the voters remains a secondary reason for the low turnout.

With this year’s results, the COMELEC is eyeing at initiating a voter’s campaign to engage more Cebuanos and encourage them to exercise their right to suffrage especially in the coming May 2019 elections. — GAN (FREEMAN)