ILOILO City – The Local Absentee Voting (LAV) system in this city has seen a very low turnout ahead of the May 12 elections, with just one individual registering to vote early.
This underwhelming response has raised concerns about the accessibility and awareness of the program, especially for government employees, police officers, and media personnel who typically benefit from the early voting opportunity.
According to Jonathan Sayno, Election Assistant II at the Iloilo City Commission on Elections (Comelec), despite the expectation of a higher number of applicants, only one person took advantage of the LAV system this year.
“We were anticipating more government employees, police officers, and media personnel to utilize the program, but unfortunately, we have only one registered voter,” Sayno said.
The lone voter will be able to cast their ballot at the City Comelec Office, with voting hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
While the LAV allows eligible voters to participate in advance, it is limited to senatorial and party-list races, excluding local elections.
This low turnout is drawing attention to potential barriers, such as lack of awareness or difficulties in accessing the system, that could be hindering more widespread participation.
“The program is crucial for those on election duty, but this small number suggests a need for better outreach to ensure more individuals are informed about the process,” Sayno added./PN
