The Commission on Elections here will be conducting a refresher course for its Board of Election Inspectors to update teachers on the latest voting procedures as mandated by the poll body.
Atty. Andre Villasis, Dumaguete’s election officer-designate, disclosed Friday that they have received via email supplemental instructions for the BEIs that is why there has to be a refresher and re-training for them.
He cited as an example of the updated instructions a different layout for the polling places.
The new set up specifies where the Vote Counting Machine will be situated inside a polling place, with the receptacle to hold the voter’s receipt right next to it.
Villasis assured that the changes are minor and in relation to voting procedures, such as when to put indelible ink on a voter’s finger and similar steps during voting.
These has nothing to do with the operation of the automated machine and will not affect the entire voting process, he added.
For Dumaguete, Villasis said he is eyeing the refresher and the final briefing for the BEIs during the first week of May.
Meanwhile, the COMELEC in Negros Oriental conducted a roadshow on the Vote Counting Machine that will be used for the May 9 polls.
The caravan reeled off Wednesday through Sunday, where a VCM unit was on hand for actual demonstration, especially for candidates and their supporters.
The roadshow aims to convince the candidates as to the accuracy and integrity of the VCM, according to Provincial Election Supervisor-designate Atty. Lionel Castillano.
The VCM used in the Negros Oriental caravan is one of two units from the regional office of the Commission on Elections that is being toured in the Central Visayas provinces after these were now enabled to print the so-called voter’s receipt, Castillano disclosed.
The cities of Dumaguete, Bais, Guihulngan and Bayawan were chosen as areas for the VCM roadshow.
In a related development,Castillano disclosed that his office has not yet received further instructions on the receptacles to be used on election day for the voter’s receipts.
Initially, the poll body had required the inventory of yellow ballot boxes for such purpose but it would be cumbersome for the teachers comprising the Board of Election Inspectors to be carrying these heavy metal boxes, according to Castillano.
The COMELEC later announced it would be procuring receptacles for the voter’s receipt but this is costly to the government, he added.
In the end, it was announced by the poll body that the receptacles to be used are the corrugated boxes that contain the official ballots, Castillano disclosed. (PNA)
