Higher than 2019’s 80.51%: Cebu logs 87.48% voter turnout for 2022 polls

CEBU, Philippines —  Some 2,021,310 registered voters came out to cast their vote in Cebu province during the May 9, 2022 national and local elections, data from the Commission on Elections showed.

This translates to a voter’s turnout of 87.48% since there are 2,310,339 registered voters across the province.

According to Atty. Jerome Brillantes, acting Cebu provincial election supervisor, the turnout this year is higher than that in 2019.

“Last elections (2019), we had 80.51%. Karon we have 87.48%… Siguro ang mga katawhan, they are encouraged nga mo-exercise their right to vote and we are happy for that,” said Brillantes.

Comelec data also showed 98,257 ballots rejected by vote counting machines in Cebu.

One of the possible reasons for such rejection could have been that the ballots were dirty.

The rejected ballots were torn lengthwise and placed in the designated receptacles.

“Wala na, mao na gision ang half dayon i-submit sa EO ang half, ang other half will be put sa ballot box, and will be marked spoiled ballots,” said Brillantes.

Brillantes said the rejected ballots were “sayang” since they could have further increased the voter’s turnout.

Meanwhile, 33 ballot boxes are set to be sent to Comelec Manila from Cebu for the random manual audit.

The 33 boxes will come from 33 clustered precincts. Each of the ballot boxes is estimated to contain about 800 ballots. This means that up to 26,000 ballots from Cebu will be subject to random manual audit.

“This is to answer the public's doubt with regard sa atong automation. Atong ibangga ni kung unsa ka accurate our VCMs are in counting the votes,” said Brillantes. — JMD (FREEMAN)