Comelec wants more voting precincts in Hong Kong

  (AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will push for more voting precincts in Hong Kong after the “chaotic” election system on the first day of absentee voting for overseas Filipinos, Commissioner George Erwin Garcia said Monday.

Filipinos in Hong Kong said that the Philippine consular office cannot accommodate the influx of individuals who are set to vote on Sunday.

“By tomorrow, we will have our en banc meeting and surely it will be discussed and we will push for an increase in the number of precincts in order to allow more Filipino voters to vote and… not to offend the sensitivities of Hong Kong authorities, especially that we’re fully aware of the COVID-19 situation in the territory,” Garcia said on ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart.

Garcia said that the Comelec – Hong Kong post decided to use only five out of the 10 available vote-counting machines.

“Our post in Hong Kong has chosen to only establish five precincts. Actually, there are additional five more vote-counting machines available to our post there — four additional and one on standby basis,” said Garcia.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to increase even by eight or even by 10 the number of precincts available for voting in Hong Kong,” he added.

Progressive group Bayan Muna called for an immediate investigation of the “chaotic and disorganized” poll system in Hong Kong.

There are 1.69 million Filipinos worldwide who are registered to vote for the May 9 elections. 93,000 of the voters are based in  Hong Kong.

Overseas voting will run from April 10 to May 9.

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