MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has started the nationwide deployment of official ballots and other election paraphernalia to be used in the May 12 midterm elections.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Comelec said initial deliverables have been shipped to six areas in Mindanao namely Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur and Special Geographic Area.
“In accordance with set timelines, the Commission on Elections commenced at exactly 12 a.m. of April 22, 2025, the deployment of the Official Ballots (OBs, ACM-readable) from its Santa Rosa City Warehouse (Laguna),” the poll body said.
The initial batch that was deployed consisted of 3,576 boxes containing 2,378,828 official ballots and accompanying boxes containing indelible ink.
The ballots, as well as other election forms, documents and supplies, will be turned over to city and municipal treasurers for safekeeping and distribution, the Comelec said.
The Comelec added it is set to complete the deployment of some 110,000 automated counting machines (ACMs) by April 25, less than a month after it started on April 4.
As for the Starlink transmission devices that are intended for voting centers and canvassing venues in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), the poll body said the delivery is expected to be completed by the last week of April.
“As of today, more than 80% of said Starlink units have been delivered and fully installed in GIDA-located public schools/facilities to be used as voting centers, as well as in legislative halls which will serve as municipal or city canvassing venues,” it said.
Source: PNA
