Comelec starts printing test ballots, delays official ones for BARMM polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) began printing 34,650 Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) ballots on Aug. 20 for the October 13 parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the ballots will be used by automated counting machines in 3,461 clustered precincts across BARMM’s five provinces, the Special Geographic Area with eight municipalities, and the cities of Lamitan, Marawi, and Cotabato.

He explained that the FTS ballots are the same ones to be read by the machines, simulating the entire process of initialization, voting, feeding of accomplished ballots, and the printing of election returns.

Meanwhile, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said they are aiming for a 75-percent voter turnout in the BARMM elections.

“It’s an accomplishment for us if we will have a 75-percent voter turnout for the BARMM polls,” Garcia said during the launch of the “Botong Bangsamoro” voter education campaign in Cotabato City.

“If we reach 75 or recorded more than 75 percent, that’s historic. Victory for each and all Moros. I hope the votes will increase,” he added.

BARMM has around 2.2 million registered voters.

Garcia said the education campaign aims to reduce the number of residents who lack knowledge about the elections, which he placed at nearly 50 percent.

“If we were be able to lower the 50 percent to just 20-25 percent, that’s good for us,” he said.

“It’s sad when someone doesn’t know anything about electoral activities. No one should be left behind when the election is being discussed.”

But while Comelec proceeded with printing test ballots, it also announced the postponement of official ballot production.

The decision came after the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament passed Bill No. 351, which redistributes the seven parliamentary district seats originally apportioned to Sulu.

“In view of the most recent development concerning the passage on third and final reading of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Parliament Bill No. 351 redistributing the seven (7) parliamentary district seats originally apportioned to Sulu, the Commission on Elections will postpone the scheduled printing of Official Ballots for the 2025 BARMM Parliamentary Elections to a later date, to further study the implications of the approved bill,” the Comelec said in a statement on August 20.

The October elections will be the first parliamentary polls in the BARMM, marking the transition from the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to a regular parliamentary government.