THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said winners in the senatorial and party-list group race could be proclaimed by May 16, or a week after the May 9 elections.
“As far as the Comelec is concerned, perhaps we can canvass the result of the senators and party lists up to May 15,” said Elections Commissioner George Garcia in a television interview.
“We can already proclaim the winning senators and party-lists, at the latest, by May 16,” Garcia added.
In the 2019 elections, the Comelec proclaimed the winning senators and party-list organizations after 9 days.
Garcia said that Congress, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), will begin the canvassing of votes for president and vice president on May 23.
“By that time, we may already have an inkling who are the winning presidential and vice presidential candidates,” said Garcia.
Back in the 2016 polls, the NBOC proclaimed President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo 18 days after Election Day.
Garcia also said the winning local candidates could be proclaimed as early as the evening of May 9.
“On the evening of May 9, we can proclaim up to the mayor. Probably, by early part of May 10, we can proceed with the congressmen, governor, vice governor, and provincial board members,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Comelec said 7 in every 10 registered voters have already received their Voter Information Sheet (VIS).
Based on data released by the poll body, 46,004,200 out of 65,709,572 VIS, or 70 percent, have already been handed out to registered voters, as of May 2.
The Cordillera Administrative Region and Ilocos Region were the first to complete the distribution at 100 percent each.
Nearing completion in VIS distribution are Bicol Region (95%), Calabarzon (94%), Central Visayas (94%), Central Luzon (83%), and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (83%).
Needing to ramp up their distribution processes are Mimaropa (76%), Davao Region (70%), Cagayan Valley (66%), Northern Mindanao (61%), and the National Capital Region (56%).
Having less than half of the VIS distributed, though, are Western Visayas (45%), Caraga (32%), Soccsksargen (30%), Zamboanga Peninsula (24%), and Eastern Visayas (16%).
Garcia has earlier said that all registered voters in the country will get their VIS in time for Election Day.
Under Republic Act No. 7904, the Comelec must provide all registered voters, through registered mail, with a voter information sheet at least 30 days before an election.
The VIS shall include the voter’s name, address, the precinct and the place where he is registered, and simplified instructions as to the casting of votes.
