Dumaguete: The Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) on Monday assured voters that there are enough ballots available, despite a mix-up reported in two precincts earlier in the day.

According to Philippines News Agency, Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-NIR director, stated at a press conference that based on previous elections with typically low voter turnout, there are excess ballots prepared as a contingency measure. This assurance comes after a report from the Diocesan Electoral Board (DEB) of Dumaguete indicated a ballot mix-up at around 6:40 a.m. in a polling precinct of Sta. Cruz Elementary School in Tanjay City.

Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) volunteers informed the DEB that 19 ballots mistakenly contained the names of candidates from Bayawan City, which is located over 100 kilometers south of Tanjay City. The electoral board of the affected precinct promptly notified its counterpart in Bayawan City about the issue.

Castillano explained that the situation would not hinder the voting process, as the voters affected by the mix-up were allowed to vote again. ‘Luckily, only 19 ballots were involved and there is enough contingency ballots to cover for those,’ he noted, emphasizing the preparedness of the election body to address such incidents.

He further pointed out that voter turnout during midterm elections is generally lower than in presidential elections, providing some leeway in managing ballot allocations. ‘We don’t usually get 100 percent voting in every polling place. And if the contingency ballots do not arrive on time, the affected voters can still vote at another precinct and we can still make do with that,’ Castillano added.