Comelec: Reprinting of ballots for 2025 elections a first in history
MANILA, Philippines — The reprinting of ballots for the 2025 elections is a first in electoral history, said Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia on Wednesday.
According to Garcia, the poll body had also received temporary restraining orders (TROs) from the Supreme Court (SC) in various cases involving poll aspirants in the past. However, the printing of ballots proceeded nonetheless.
“First time po ito sa pangyayari natin sa ating electoral history na ang Comelec ay mag-oorder ng reprinting, back to zero bilang pagtalima sa utos ng ating Kataas-taasang Hukuman,” Garcia said in a press conference.
(This is the first time in our electoral history that the Comelec will order a reprinting, back to zero, in compliance with the order of our Supreme Court.)
READ: Comelec to destroy 6 million printed ballots for 2025 polls
On Tuesday, the SC issued temporary restraining orders to the poll body regarding the cases of five election aspirants, halting the printing of ballots immediately. The Comelec, which began printing ballots on January 6, had already printed approximately six million ballots.
Article continues after this advertisementThe SC reversed the poll body’s initial ruling declaring senatorial aspirant Subair Guinthum Mustapha as a nuisance candidate. The Comelec stated that Mustapha’s name will now be included on the ballots.
Article continues after this advertisementGarcia also noted that the poll body aims to begin reprinting ballots on Monday, January 20, once contingency measures, such as changes to the ballot faces and the election management system — which contains the contents and process of printing ballots — are finalized.
READ: Ballot reprinting won’t lead to postponement of May polls – Garcia
Meanwhile, Garcia affirmed that the suspension of printing of ballots will not result in the postponement of the 2025 elections.