High voter turnout seen in Marawi polls

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the hostilities and devastation that they suffered, a large number of voters from war-torn Marawi is expected to go out and participate in the Sept. 22 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

“Given all the factors, they contribute to our belief that we will have a healthy voter turnout,” James Jimenez, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson, said yesterday.

According to Jimenez, Marawi voters have manifested eagerness to cast their votes in the barangay and SK polls.

He noted that Mindanao, including Marawi, has a long history of high voter turnout.

“They are politically active and very motivated to vote,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez also said Marawi has long been waiting for the opportunity to vote for new barangay and youth leaders.

“Barangay elections are very closely fought and these are happening in a place where elections have been suspended twice already,” Jimenez pointed out.

He said the siege in Marawi is unlikely to dampen the people’s desire to vote.

Teopisto Elnas, project director for the Marawi elections, said the Comelec is exerting all efforts to achieve the highest voter turnout.

“In any elections we have had, we have never achieved a 100 percent voter turnout. But we will do our best to achieve the highest turnout possible,” Elnas said.

He said the Comelec has mounted information campaigns in the so-called “ground zero” areas whose residents are assigned to vote in alternative voting centers.

“Our focus are the residents in evacuation centers. We will inform them on where they should go to cast their votes,” Elnas said.

The five alternative voting centers are the Multi-Purpose Hall in Area 4 in Barangay Sagonsongan; Marawi Central Elementary Pilot School and Dansalan Integrated School in Area 2, also in Barangay Sagonsongan; Bito Elementary School in Barangay Bito Buadi Parba; Rorogagus Elementary School in Barangay Rorogagus; and Calocan Elementary School East District in Barangay Calocan East.

Comelec said 15,096 registered voters from 27 barangays are set to vote in the 51 clustered precincts in the alternative voting centers.