In 2013, A or 1 won’t make a difference

Reynaldo Santos Jr

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Comelec says a raffle will determine the order of party-list groups in the 2013 election ballots

MANILA, Philippines – In the 2013 elections, party-list groups whose names begin with the letter A or number 1 will no longer have the advantage over the rest.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday, June 15, signed Resolution 9467, which allows the conduct of a raffle of accredited partylist groups to determine their order of listing in the official ballots in the May 13, 2013 elections.

This will do away with the previous alphabetical presentation of groups seeking party-list seats.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the resolution is meant to avoid partylist groups jockeying for the first letters of the alphabet or number 1.

The raffle will be held on Dec. 14, or 5 months before the elections, and will involve the following:

  • at least three members of Comelec
  • partylist group leader
  • representatives of media

The poll body will be using a raffle drum and numbered balls. During the raffle, the numbered balls will be drawn as accredited partylist groups are called alphabetically. The numbered balls picked for each group will then correspond to their designated number in the ballot.

Name game

In previous elections, candidates and party-list groups were listed in the ballots alphabetically and starting with number 1. Thus, groups have come up with names and numbers to ensure they appeared on top of the list.

Of the 187 partylist groups listed in the 2010 election ballots, for example, 12 groups had their party names beginning with the number 1, while 103 groups had their acronyms beginning with the letter A.

Some of the more than 200 groups that registered for the 2013 polls followed the same track, as most of them also chose to begin their party names with the number 1:

1-Sagip 1-AK
1-Aalalay 1PSB
1JAMG 1 AM
1-Apto 1 Teach
1-Ang Edukasyon 1-AAMOVER
1-Ang Maharlika 1 Pagasa
1 Adhikain 1-Aid Dalaw
1-Abilidad 1+1 Katipunan
1-Pabahay 1V-RAP
1 Pinoy for Kalikasan 1ePinoy
1 Ang Batas 1-AIMCOOP
1-Asal 1-KBP
1-Akong Minimumwager 1-ABAYAN
1-Kanegosyo 1-Pacman
1-Lambat 1-Gumil
1A Adhikain 1Wil Serve


“Some groups just use these names to jockey for placements at the top of the ballots,” Jimenez admitted. – Rappler.com

Click on the links below for more stories on the 2013 elections. 

Elsewhere on Rappler:

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!