Low voter turnout expected as BSKE coincides with weekend, holidays

MANILA – The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) is expecting lower turnout of voters for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) 2023 as the polling day coincides with the long weekend and holidays this week.

PPCRV executive director Jude Liao told the Philippine News Agency at the watchdog’s command center at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila on Monday that voter turnout for BSKE is usually lower compared to national elections.

PPCRV trustee Agnes Gervacio likewise added that many Filipinos have took advantage of the long weekend and public holidays on Nov. 1 and 2.

PPCRV national coordinator Dr. Arwin Serrano also said this year’s timing of BSKE, which is the first time to coincide with a long weekend and holidays, may affect the turnout of voters.

Serrano said PPCRV has close to 300,000 direct and indirect volunteers that ensure free, fair, and fraud-free BSKE 2023.

“But as I always say, the barangay election is the most important election because this is when you vote for the leader of your community. These are the officials who we go directly to air our concerns, our issues, or if we have suggestions and recommendations,” Serrano said in Filipino.

Vernice Joy Ong, a voter in a barangay in Valenzuela City, is among those Filipinos that chose to go out of town than cast her vote during the BSKE. Two other voters from her family also went on a vacation than vote during this poll.