PPCRV reminds voters: Shade left circle on the ballot

MANILA, Philippines – Hours before the May 9 national and local elections, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), in a Facebook post, reminded voters to shade the circle to the left of their chosen candidate come election day. (READ: PHVote 101: How to vote on May 9).

“Be careful! See the snapshot of the ballot below! Remember, shade the circle TO THE LEFT of your choice! Happy voting!” PPCRV,  the official citizen’s arm of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), said.

Cebuano Duterte supporters reminded

During the final grand rally for Duterte supporters in Cebu on Saturday, May 7, gubernatorial candidate Winston Garcia reminded supporters the same thing. (READ: How to prevent cheating with the vote-counting machine)

“Kung gusto mo masiguro ang kadaogan sa atong presidente, e-shade ninyo ang left side, dili ang right side kay kang Roxas na,” Garcia said. (If you want our president to win (Duterte), make sure you shade the left side oval of the ballot, not the right side because it’s for Roxas.)

Garcia suggested that it could be the strategy of Roxas‘ camp to trick the voters, so he told the Davao City mayor’s supporters to be watchful this election.

Election lawyer Rowena Garcia talked about instances where vote counting machines (VCMs) in some precincts are counting the votes for Duterte under Roxas’ name. (READ: Duterte lawyer: Votes went to Roxas in VCM testing)

“Atong e-shade kay ang left side nga oval gyod kay mao na ang kay Duterte, kung right sideman gyod nga oval mao na ang kay Mar Roxas. Dili nato gusto madaog si Roxas pero kita ra diay mibotar niya,” she exclaimed.

(Make sure to shade the left side of the oval because that’s for Duterte, the right side oval is for Mar Roxas. We don’t want Roxas to win but we have no idea that we are voting him.)

Replacement ballots

Early on May 9, the PPCRV also reminded voters about the rules and procedures for replacement ballots, as per Resolution 10117. 

If, after 4 tries, the VCM still rejects a ballot, the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) will decide, by majority vote, whether or not the ballot was defaced on purpose. 

Voters will get one replacement ballot if the BEIs decide that the rejected ballot was not defaced deliberately. If the decision is that the ballot was defaced deliberately, no replacement will be given. 

PPCRV advised voters to vote early, as there is a possiblity that the precincts run out of ballots – no extra ballots were printed because of the late insertion of the resolution.

– with reports from Lou Gepuela and Apple Grace Danuco/ Rappler.com

 Apple Grace Danuco is a lead Rappler Mover in Cebu.