MANILA – It is allowed for voters to bring cellphones inside the precincts, but they are prohibited from taking pictures and posting these on their social media accounts.
“Don’t take any photos and upload them on Facebook. Let’s respect the solemnity and process of the election while we’re inside the precinct,” said Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Erwin Garcia.
He also reminded voters to refuse accepting sample ballots when they go to poll centers for today’s midterm elections.
It is prohibited under the law to take a picture of the ballot and the screen of the voting machine.
“It’s also prohibited to take a picture of the receipt and, of course, to bring the receipt outside the precinct. Let’s behave because poll watchers could report you and you could face a case,” Garcia said.
As for sample ballots, Garcia said voters should not accept them as candidates may use them to confuse voters.
“They may be used to deceive you,” Garcia said. “Someone could take a picture of you and you could be among those who could be used because that qualifies for vote buying.”
According to Comelec, there are over 68.6 million registered voters for the midterm polls, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao parliamentary elections.
During this election, Filipino voters will select senators, members of the House of Representatives, party-list representatives, and various local officials, including governors, vice governors, mayors, vice mayors, and local council members.
Voting hours will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with early voting available from 5 a.m. for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant voters./PN
