Cagayan Valley officials: Polls orderly despite missing names, glitches
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Voters line up to cast their votes in Isabela. Photo by Villamor Visaya Jr.
CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela — Several reports of missing voter names and technical glitches involving vote-counting machines (VCMs) were recorded in several precincts across Cagayan Valley during Monday’s elections.
Despite these issues, authorities described the conduct of the polls as “relatively peaceful and orderly.”
“We recorded no violent incidents in the region,” said Police Brig. Gen. Antonio Marallag Jr., regional police director for Cagayan Valley.
He added: “Most voters chose to vote early, which helped ease the flow at polling precincts.”
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) regional office projected a voter turnout of 65 to 75 percent from the 2.35 million registered voters across the region.
Although standby VCMs were prepared in case of malfunction, they remained unused in most polling centers as of this writing.
To safeguard voter health, especially in the summer heat, medical teams were stationed at various precincts to assist individuals who might suffer from hypertension or other health concerns.
Meanwhile, minor violations were observed in Cauayan City and San Mateo, where children were seen distributing sample ballots and campaign materials within the 50-meter election buffer zone. / MR
