EU sends 226 observers for May 12 elections

About 200 members of the European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission (EOM) are set to deploy across the Philippines this week to observe voting and counting for the May 12 mid-term elections.

Ivan Godarsky, an EU EOM media analyst, met with Manila Bulletin executives on Monday, May 5, 2024, to discuss the mission's plans.

The team will consist of a core group of 12 analysts and be augmented by 72 long-term observers and 104 short-term observers who arrived in the country today, bringing the total number of EU EOM members to 226.

Portuguese Marta Temido, a member of the European Parliament, will serve as chief observer for the Philippines deployment and reported that the mission is going smoothly so far.

The new arrivals will enhance the mission's presence on election day, visiting different precincts from opening at 5 a.m. to closing at 7 p.m., observing the closing procedures at one polling precinct until counting operations are over, and assessing the functioning of election technology.

After May 12, the EU EOM will present preliminary findings and a comprehensive final report with recommendations two months later.