Marinduque Vote Manual Recount Requested After Close Election
Outgoing Marinduque lone district Representative Lord Allan Jay Velasco has formally requested a manual recount of votes in his province following a razor-thin loss in the recent gubernatorial election. The call for a Marinduque vote manual recount comes after Velasco was defeated by a margin of just 400 votes.
According to official tallies, Velasco secured 65,726 votes, while Governor-elect Mel Go received 66,115 votes. This narrow gap prompted Velasco to appeal to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for a comprehensive manual recount of all ballots in the province.
In a statement, Velasco emphasized that the recount is crucial not only for Marinduque but also for ensuring election integrity across the country. “Ilan lang ba ang presinto? Paano ito pinili? Sapat ba ang dami upang magsilbing representasyon ng integridad ng buong automated election system?” he questioned, highlighting concerns over the current random manual audit.
Concerns Over Automated Election System Reliability
The former House Speaker expressed doubts about the accuracy of the ongoing random audit, stressing that only a full manual review can truly validate the automated results. He suggested that the entire province should undergo a manual recount, stating, “Kung nais nating tunay na masubok ang katapatan at pagiging maaasahan ng sistemang ito na ipinatupad ng Comelec, ang nararapat ay isang mas malawak na saklaw ng manual recount, hindi lamang ilang piling presinto, kundi buong lalawigan. At kung kailangan ng isang pilot area para rito, bukas ang Lalawigan ng Marinduque.”
Velasco’s request reflects a broader desire among voters for transparent and trustworthy elections. He underscored that the recount’s purpose transcends personal interest, aiming to guarantee a clean electoral process for all Filipinos. “Dapat itong magpakita ng 100% accuracy o isang mataas na antas ng katiyakan na karapat-dapat sa tiwala ng mamamayan,” he added.
Implications for Election Integrity Nationwide
Local observers note that this appeal for a Marinduque vote manual recount could set a precedent for how close elections are handled in the future. Ensuring that every vote counts accurately is vital for public confidence in democratic processes.
The commission’s response to this appeal will be closely watched by community leaders and election watchdogs alike, as it may influence policies on auditing and verifying automated election results.
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