Comelec to proclaim new senators within two weeks after election day

The proclamation of the 12 winners in the May 13 senatorial race is expected within two weeks after election day, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday.

“The tentative date for the proclamation for the new senators is roughly within two weeks from the voting day,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a press conference.

“In 2016, what we did is to proclaim all 12 [at the same time], and that is what we are going for. Hindi half and half,” he added.

Jimenez said the proclamation of winners for the local races could happen as early as within 24 hours.

“Proclamation of winners at the local level is expected very quickly. At the lowest level, it could be done in 24 to 36 hours... at most at 72 hours,” he said.

There are at least 148 candidates running for senator and 128 party-list groups seeking seats in the House of Representatives.

There are 61 million registered voters for the May 13, 2019 polls. Their votes will be counted using 85,000 vote-counting machines. —KBK, GMA News