Comelec likely to approve media absentee voting

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is likely to approve a petition to allow members of the media to be covered by the policy on local absentee voting so they could vote early.

“Many are interested and I think the commissioners are open to this,” Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said, adding that he also supports the petition.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal had filed a petition on behalf of media practitioners to allow them to vote early in the May 2013 elections.

“If government officials performing election duties are allowed early voting, then media practitioners, who also perform election duties and are actually partners of the Comelec in disseminating news and information on election events and results, should likewise be extended the same privilege,” Macalintal said.

The early media voting bill is still pending in Congress.

The Comelec said thousands of journalists were deprived of their right to vote in past elections because they were assigned to cover political exercises in areas away from where they are registered as voters.

Under Executive Order 157 and Republic Act 7166 or An Act Providing for Synchronized National and Local Elections and for Electoral Reforms, members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and other government officers and employees who may temporarily be assigned to other areas in connection with the performance of election duties are covered by local absentee voting.