This is an AI-generated summary, which may contain errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
Election watchers are citing the need for more voter education efforts as Election Day approaches
MANILA, Philippines – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is approaching its first legislative elections as the election period and the gun ban officially begin on Thursday, July 16.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said Wednesday night, July 15, that checkpoints will be set up in 105 municipalities and three cities to enforce the gun ban.
of Malacañang selection of the President’s Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento as head of the Government’s Peace Implementation Panel a day before the election period gives a positive sign that the long-delayed elections will finally be successful.
Polls have previously suffered from the pandemic and From Sulu from the region. The successful conduct of BARMM elections is essential for the completion of the peace process in the Bangsamoro.
“For our Bangsamoro citizens, for political parties, for candidates, there is no doubt, the Bangsamoro elections will continue,” Garcia said during the publication of the vote on June 9.
(For our fellow Bangsamoro citizens, for political parties, for candidates, there is no doubt that the Bangsamoro elections are moving forward.)
Voter education continues
Independent election administrators such as the National Movement of Citizens for Free Elections (NAMFREL) and LENTE Philippines are gearing up as election day approaches.
NAMFREL Chairman Angel “Lito” Averia Jr. he said Action Alert Thursday that election observers act as “reinforcement” of the Comelec, ensuring compliance during the election period.
Averia said they are organizing more education sessions for voters this August because there are “areas that still do not fully understand the parliamentary system.”
Ona Caritos, executive director of LENTE Philippines, said voters in BARMM are already aware of the basics but changes in the region’s election rules meant they had to step up their voter education efforts.
“Because there have been changes in the Bangsamoro Electoral Code at the beginning of this year, there is a big challenge to update the voter education materials and go back to the communities you have visited and tell them about the updates,” Caritos said in the program.
13 regional political parties are expected to compete for parliamentary seats. Among them are the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front party; and the Bangsamoro Federal Party. BARMM interim prime minister Abdulraof Macacua is running as an independent candidate for the 3rd parliamentary seat of Maguindanao del Norte district.
Here is the schedule from the election period to election day:
- July 16: Start of election period, gun ban
- July 30: Start of the campaign period
- September 4-14: Absolute ban on the release of public funds except for medical or funeral assistance
- September 12: Final testing and closure
- September 13: Eve of election day, alcohol ban imposed, campaigning banned
- September 14: Election day
Comelec publishes 2.39 million votes. Each precinct will have 600 voters, according to Garcia.
On September 14, the people of the Bangsamoro will vote for the 80 members of parliament for the region. The elected members of parliament will choose the next prime minister.
– Rappler.com
