Comelec allows early voting for media

MEMBERS of media organizations, who will cover the May midterm polls, will be allowed to vote earlier, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday.

Comelec Resolution 9637, promulgated on Wednesday, gave mediamen the privilege to vote ahead of other voters.

They now enjoy the same privilege granted to government officials and employees and members of the military and police forces who will be on duty during the elections. These comprise the so-called local absentee voters.

Also, the poll body resolution said that local absentee voters shall vote any day from April 28 to 30, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. “under the direct supervision and presence of the municipal/city/district EO [officer], or his representative; or the PES, or his representative; or the Regional Election Director- NCR [National Capital Region].”

If granted the privilege to vote early but failed to vote during the scheduled date for absentee voting, the voter can still cast his vote on May 13.

The votes of the local absentee voters, who will vote under the manual system, will be counted at the commission’s main office in Manila, together with the automated votes after the election period on May 13.

The poll body said that media personnel, including technical and production crew, who will be covering the elections should fill up the local absentee voting form.

The form can be downloaded from its website and can be reproduced. It should also be submitted to the provincial, or regional officer of the local election officer in cities before March 31.

Applicants should also have a certification from the media entity that will prove that he cannot vote on May 13 because he will be on duty.