ILOILO City – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is urging the 3.1 million registered voters in Western Visayas to bring a prepared “kodigo” or personal list of chosen candidates when they head to the polls on May 12, to ensure faster and more efficient voting.
Comelec Region 6 director Atty. Dennis Ausan said the poll body allows voters to bring a small sheet of paper listing their preferred candidates for both national and local positions, provided it is prepared privately and not distributed at polling precincts.
The aim is to minimize delays inside voting centers and help especially vulnerable sectors cast their votes smoothly.
“It’s a time-saving tool. Preparing a kodigo at home makes the actual voting quicker and more organized,” Ausan explained.
He also emphasized that the Voter’s Information Sheet (VIS), which includes the full list of candidates and voting instructions, may also serve as a voter’s guide and be brought on election day.
Ausan clarified, however, that distributing sample ballots outside polling places on election day is prohibited under the Omnibus Election Code as it constitutes a form of campaigning.
Campaign activities are strictly banned from Sunday, May 11, to Monday, May 12, the day of the election.
Voting hours on May 12 are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for regular voters.
For the vulnerable sector, such as senior citizens and persons with disabilities, voting hours begin earlier — between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m.
To manage potential last-minute queues, Comelec has instructed members of the electoral board to list down, at 6:45 p.m., the names of all voters still lining up within a 30-meter radius of the precinct.
These listed individuals will still be allowed to vote even after the official 7 p.m. cutoff.
Anyone arriving after 7 p.m. whose name is not on the list will no longer be accommodated.
“We cannot prevent some voters from arriving at the last minute, but we encourage everyone to vote early to avoid the rush and ensure they are not turned away,” Ausan said./PN
