Mislabeled Ballots Cast Raise Concerns in Recent Elections
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) has urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to clarify the issue of mislabeled ballots cast in some precincts in Zamboanga and Dumaguete. The poll watchdog discovered discrepancies on the Comelec website that sparked their concern.
PPCRV spokesperson Ana Singson shared that their coordinators noticed the mislabeled ballots cast on the Comelec site as early as May 12. While exact numbers remain unclear, a considerable amount of inconsistencies were found in Zamboanga City and Dumaguete City.
Discrepancies in Voter Data Highlight Mislabeled Ballots Cast
One example highlighted by PPCRV showed a Dumaguete precinct with 930 registered voters and 814 actual voters on May 13. Oddly, the recorded votes cast totaled 956, exceeding the number of voters who participated. Such irregularities prompted the watchdog to seek a clear explanation.
By May 15, PPCRV noted that the mislabeled ballots cast had been corrected on the website, aligning the number of voters who voted with the valid ballots cast—both at 814. This change suggests the initial figures were inaccurate or misplaced.
Comelec Responds to Mislabeled Ballots Cast Issue
According to Comelec, the discrepancies resulted from data being assigned to the wrong cells in their system. “Apparently the data that was pointed to for that particular cell was not the data supposed to be for that cell,” Singson relayed from Comelec’s explanation.
Despite this, PPCRV is requesting a more detailed clarification about the original data entered on the website. “We are not throwing any accusations. We are simply requesting a more in-depth explanation,” Singson emphasized, underlining the need for transparency.
The issue of mislabeled ballots cast raises important questions about the accuracy of election data and the processes used to display voter information online. Ensuring data integrity is crucial for maintaining public trust in the electoral system.
Moving Forward: Addressing Mislabeled Ballots Cast Concerns
As investigations continue, the focus remains on understanding how these errors occurred and preventing similar incidents in the future. The election commission’s cooperation with watchdog groups like PPCRV plays a vital role in safeguarding the electoral process.
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