Delayed delivery of PH poll materials postpones final VCM testing in New York

(INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Consulate General in New York on Thursday reported delays in the transport of election materials, postponing the scheduled testing and sealing of vote counting machines (VCMs) there.

In an advisory posted on Facebook Thursday (Manila time), the consulate informed Filipinos there that a new date for the final testing and sealing of VCMs will be announced once it receives the election materials.

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“Due to delays in the transport of the election materials for the 2022 Philippine National Elections, the Consulate General of the Philippines in New York informs the public that the scheduled Final Testing and Sealing of Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) on 07 April 2022 (Thursday) is hereby POSTPONED to a later date, which shall be announced by the Consulate once the election materials are received,” the consulate said.

The consulate, meanwhile, invited members of the Filipino community there to join a virtual town hall early next week to “learn the steps on how to vote for this year’s national elections.”

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According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), 1,697,215 Filipinos living abroad were registered to vote in this year’s elections.

Overseas voting will run from April 10 to May 9. Filipino voters abroad may only vote for national candidates namely president, vice president, 12 senators, and a party-list group.

They will vote either by mailing their ballot or personally casting their ballot at 93 Philippine diplomatic posts overseas.

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