LAV program starts for election workers, media

Government employees and other individuals performing election-related duties can start casting their votes today under the Local Absentee Voting (LAV) program.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia announced that LAV will continue until April 30, allowing over 57,682 police officers, soldiers, government personnel, and members of the media to vote using automated counting machines (ACMs).

Chairman Garcia expressed hope for an 88-percent turnout similar to the 2022 presidential elections, despite typically lower voter participation in midterm polls.

Absentee voters include 1,005 media personnel, 29,030 Armed Forces personnel, and 23,448 national police officers, along with 4,206 government employees from various offices.

Garcia highlighted the ease of voting this year due to the use of automated systems, emphasizing that voters will only need to shade ballots rather than write names.

Comelec Chairman Garcia also reminded voters that taking pictures of ballots or selfies inside polling precincts is strictly prohibited to maintain ballot secrecy and stressed the importance of LAV in determining senatorial candidates for the 12th and 13th slots.