Comelec 'delays' ballot printing by 1 week

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will “delay" for one more week the printing of the ballots to be used in the May 10 automated elections. But Comelec spokesman James Arthur Jimenez insisted that the one-week period is meant to accommodate any final disqualification or reconsideration of candidates running in the polls. “We will start printing of the official ballots on January 30, may limang araw na palugit. Maraming posibleng mangyari in five days, disqualification and reconsideration. Just to make sure walang hahabol, January 30 tayo (We will start printing the official ballots on January 30 instead of January 25. A lot of things can happen in five days, such as disqualification of some candidates and the reconsideration of cases of other candidates who had been disqualified earlier)," Jimenez said in an interview on dzBB radio. But he said that the Comelec will start printing on Monday the sample ballots for voters’ education. These would also serve as teachers’ guide as they assume their poll duty on May 10, he said. The sample ballots will not have the security marks in the actual ballots, he said. Also, these would not contain the names of official candidates, he added. Jimenez also said they expect to finalize the length of the official ballots by Monday. Teachers’ pay Meanwhile, Jimenez said teachers who serve during the May 10 polls would get up to P4,300 each in allowances and for their services. He said this includes the pay for Election Day duty, and P500 each for at least two pre-election activities, as well as allowances. Non-cash benefits such as extra leave credits are also included in the package for teachers pulling election duty, he added. “Maraming teachers’ groups sumang-ayon sa package na ito (Many teachers’ groups have agreed with this package)," he said. - LBG, GMANews.TV