Comelec may extend voting period in some areas with VCM problems

In response to delays due to glitches in several vote counting machines (VCMs) on Monday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is readying a resolution to extend the voting period in some polling precincts, GMA News' Joseph Morong reported.

.@COMELEC spox @jabjimenez: Voting to be extended in areas where VCM caused delay #Eleksyon2016 via @Joseph_Morong

— GMA News Breaking (@gmanewsbreaking) May 9, 2016

For every hour that the voting is delayed, another hour will be added to the voting period. For instance, a two-hour delay would result in elections being extended until 7 p.m.

Voting period commenced early Monday morning at 6 a.m., and was initially expected to finish at 5 p.m.

Comelec decided on the extension after receiving several reports from polling precincts with malfuntioning VCMs. 

As of now, Comelec is still compiling the initial list of polling places where there will be an extension of voting hours.

GMA News has received reports of VCM glitches in Isabela City, Romblon, Negros Oriental, Tacloban City, Roxas City, Capiz and Masbate.

In Metro Manila, areas with reported VCM glitches include the Padre Burgos Elementary School in Manila, Rizal High School in Pasig City, San Juan City, Quezon City and Caloocan City.

Voting in some of these areas have yet to start due to the VCMs' glitches.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, in an interview with GMA News, said they are still gathering information from other precincts regarding reports on VCM glitches.

“Mayroon talagang lugar pero hindi naman majority ng Pilipinas. There are some places, pero we are finding exactly kung gaano karami,” Jimenez said.

Earlier on Monday, Comelec Chairperson Andres Bautista said they are open to extending the voting period on case-to-case basis.

Appeal to extend voting

Meanwhile, poll watchdog Kontra Daya urged the Comelec on Monday to extend the voting time in all polling precincts nationwide by two hours due to reports of malfunctioning VCMs.

In a text message to GMA News Online, Kontra Daya convenor Danny Arao asked the poll body to move the close of voting period from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Comelec has yet to come up with a resolution regarding the voting period extension even as it assured that there are 5,000 replacements available for malfunctioning VCMs.

Voting period commenced early Monday morning at 6 a.m., and was initially expected to finish at 5 p.m.

Some 54 million Filipinos are expected to flock to over 92,000 polling precincts nationwide to elect a new set of leaders, from president down to the last municipal councilor. —Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/Virgil Lopez/KG/ALG/VVP, GMA News