PPCRV Pushes Use of Pre-printed Ballots for Village, SK Polls

MANILA, August 31, 2010- Election watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPRCV) asked the poll body to utilize pre-printed ballots for the barangays and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls in October.

Henrietta de Villa, PPCRV national chairperson, said it would be good if said ballots under the automated elections system would be utilized in the Oct. 25 elections for the voters to be more familiarized with it.

"That will be getting them used to filling up the ballot in an automated system because definitely in (the) 2013 (elections) it would again be automated," De Villa said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is expected to decide this week on the type of ballot voters will be using. But the agency is reportedly looking at using manual ballot.

For several elections, the PPCRV has been engaged in the voters' education program.

Not only would it reflects the Comelec's goal for AES, De Villa said, using pre-printed ballots would make it easier for voters since it is shorter.

"It won't be as terrible as the election last May which was very long because of the party-list. Now, it would be more standard (in size)...that would be easier for the voters," she said.

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez earlier said that the poll body is leaning towards choosing the manual ballots since it would pose lesser problems especially on the logistical aspect.

But De Villa said that while she agrees that having pre-printed ballots would pose greater problems for the poll body, improving the voting system in the country is more important.

"I'm sure even the PPCRV coordinators would say that it's worth the budget or amount....because of its positive effect for the next elections," she said. (CBCPNews)