All systems go for Cavite special polls

Ballot printing for next month’s special polls started last Wednesday at the National Printing Office in Quezon City

The Commission on Elections on Monday announced that preparation for the conduct of the special elections in the seventh legislative district of Cavite on 25 February is almost 100 percent complete.

In an interview with Daily Tribune, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco disclosed that the printing of 355,184 ballots for the upcoming polls were finished last Sunday but will undergo further verification.

“Because we will be conducting an automated election, the ballots that will be fed to the machine should be checked first whether the machine would read it, as it is an indication that it is a good ballot,” Laudiangco said.

Ballot printing for next month’s special polls started last Wednesday at the National Printing Office in Quezon City.

Laudiangco also said that the election period in the seventh district of Cavite will start on 26 January, as well as the campaign period which will run up until 23 February, two days before the polls.

Meanwhile, voter registration in the said district is suspended due to the current voter registration period within 90 days before the special elections, which Laudiangco said is within the prohibited period according to Republic Act 8189.

In effect, those who are eligible to vote for the special elections are those people who are in the Comelec’s list as of last year.

“As soon as Comelec opens the voter registration, let’s take advantage of this, because we don’t know when the next plebiscite or special election will come to your area that could bar you from having to register,” Laudiangco said.

Four candidates are up for the vacant congressional seat in Cavite’s 7th Legislative District, which covers the City of Trece Martires and the Municipalities of Amadeo, Indang and Tanza.