Comelec allows canvassers to transmit Batanes special poll results via messaging app

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will allow the Board of Canvassers to transmit results of the Batanes special poll through messaging app Viber, poll body chairman George Garcia said on Wednesday.

A special election will be conducted in Batanes on Nov. 28 to replace late Batanes Lone District Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr.

The poll will be manual, meaning transmission of results will not be automated.

Garcia explained that the geographical setting of Batanes, which is made of islands, will hinder the early proclamation of winners, noting that in some areas, boat rides are only until 2 p.m. because of huge waves. The special election may be finished by 3 p.m. or 4 p.m., depending on the queue of voters.

“Dahil manual na halalan po ‘yan, mano-manong bibilangin, mano-mano ang pagsulat, at mano-mano rin ‘yung pagta-transmit ng result,” Garcia told reporters in a chance interview.

“Nilagay namin sa rules namin na ‘yung mismong Board of Canvassers ng bayan, halimbawa ng Itbayat, ay pwedeng mag-transmit ng results sa pamamagitan ng Viber. Iba-Viber mo ‘yung result with the consent of the parties and the candidates and lawyers,” he said.

The use of Viber in the Batanes poll will be limited to the canvassing from municipal to provincial level. The delivery of election returns from barangays to municipalities will still be manual.

An accredited phone will be used to send the results, which will then be canvassed. 

With the innovation, the Comelec is ensuring the proclamation of winner by night of Nov. 28.

Garcia pointed out that under the Constitution, the poll body is permitted to promulgate rules and guidelines to ensure “honest, orderly, peaceful, transparent, and acceptable” elections.

Around 13,000 voters will choose between four candidates for the Batanes special poll.