Printing of plebiscite ballots almost complete

Ballots for the Jan. 21 referendum for the areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have already been printed and shipping has started over the weekend. (Photo by Elmer B. Domingo – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA — The printing of the close to 3 million official ballots for the referendum on the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) is almost complete, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Monday.

Maria Victoria Dulcero, vice chair of the Comelec Printing Committee said the printing of some 600,000 ballots for the Feb. 6 plebiscite is almost finished.

“At the moment the printing committee of the Comelec is conducting printing of ballots intended for the Feb. 6, 2019 BOL plebiscite for the provinces of Lanao del Norte and also North Cotabato,” she said at the inspection of the facilities of the National Printing Office in Quezon City Monday morning.

“We are almost done. So, I think in a day or two we will be able to deliver to our packing and shipping committee for deployment of the ballots for the Feb.

6 plebiscite required number of ballots,” she added.

The printing of the ballots and other accountable forms is expected to be completed on Tuesday or Wednesday, she said.

Ballots for the Jan. 21 referendum for the areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have already been printed and shipping has started over the weekend.

“We are happy to report that the Jan. 21, 2019 BOL plebiscite requirements for the ballot and accountable forms are all done before Christmas,” she said.

There are 2.1 million ballots printed for the Jan.

21 plebiscite and 600,000 for February 6.

After the ballots have been printed, it will undergo a manual verification process and then will be submitted to their reception and verification committee, Dulcero said.

“The NPO has a process also on verification then we submit it to Comelec reception and verification committee,” she added.

The January polls will be conducted in geographical areas comprising ARMM, including Isabela City in Basilan and Cotabato City.

The February plebiscite will be held in 28 areas located in the province of Lanao del Norte except Iligan City; the municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, Tulunan and Pigkawayan in the province of North Cotabato.