MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) extended the voting period by an hour on Monday, May 9, in certain polling precincts. (LIVE COVERAGE: 2016 Philippine elections)

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista announced that the voting period will run until 6 pm on Monday for areas that started voting at 9 am onwards.

For other areas, the voting period was set from 6 am to 5 pm on Monday. (READ: Guide to the 2016 Philippine elections)

The extended voting period comes after voting was delayed in certain polling precincts, with the Comelec having to replace up to 150 vote-counting machines (VCMs) as of 2 pm on Monday.

Bautista earlier explained that the Comelec wants to take advantage of daylight, for the safety of voters and election inspectors.

Once polling precincts close, voters “who have not yet cast their votes but are within 30 meters from the polling place…shall be allowed to cast their votes,” according to the Comelec’s general instructions for election inspectors. 

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said that in certain precincts on Monday, “voters lining up within 30 meters can vote past 6 pm.” – Rappler.com