QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The Commission on Elections said that the ballots which they printed from August 21 to August 26 will not go to waste in case the 2016 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will be postponed.
“The 411,000 ballots already printed will not go to waste. They are in fact preserved because they can be used for future elections,” Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said.
The Comelec was able to print 411,000 ballots for Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur until August 26 when they decided to temporarily suspend the printing.
“All that we need to do is amend the dates already imprinted on the ballots. It’s not gonna be a waste. They are going to be used again. Right now, we are just waiting for further developments,” Jimenez added.
The House of Representatives and the Senate agreed on Tuesday, August 30, to move the Barangay and SK polls to October 23, 2017. Congress will file a bill postponing the upcoming elections to next year, which could be approved on second reading at the House either on September 5 or 6, and on third and final reading on September 12. (Comelec)