Filipino Soldiers and Police Vote Early in National Election
- 14 years ago
With Philippine national elections only two weeks away, military and police officers were casting their votes manually at military bases, police stations and government offices across the country.
They voted ahead of the May 10 ballot so they could provide security at polling stations for the country's first automated elections.
[Oliver Rodil, Philippine Army Private]: (Filipino, male)
“I wasn't expecting that we can join in the automated voting process because only a few of us are voting here today. Some of us live near their respective voting precincts; only those of us who came from the provinces joined the absentee voting.”
Nearly 21,000 members of the country’s security forces are expected to vote only for national positions until Friday. Now that includes candidates for president, vice-president, senators and a party list group.
The ballots cast will then be delivered to the Commission on Election's office in Manila.
Only members of a special election board will be allowed to open the sealed ballots to tally the results after the election.
More than 19,000 military officers deployed across the archipelago will participate in the absentee voting.
Independent pollster Pulse Asia shows Philippine presidential frontrunner Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino pulling away slowly to the head of the race.
Former president and convicted-plunderer Joseph Estrada, previously ranking third, is now tied with billionaire legislator Manuel Villar for second place.
They voted ahead of the May 10 ballot so they could provide security at polling stations for the country's first automated elections.
[Oliver Rodil, Philippine Army Private]: (Filipino, male)
“I wasn't expecting that we can join in the automated voting process because only a few of us are voting here today. Some of us live near their respective voting precincts; only those of us who came from the provinces joined the absentee voting.”
Nearly 21,000 members of the country’s security forces are expected to vote only for national positions until Friday. Now that includes candidates for president, vice-president, senators and a party list group.
The ballots cast will then be delivered to the Commission on Election's office in Manila.
Only members of a special election board will be allowed to open the sealed ballots to tally the results after the election.
More than 19,000 military officers deployed across the archipelago will participate in the absentee voting.
Independent pollster Pulse Asia shows Philippine presidential frontrunner Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino pulling away slowly to the head of the race.
Former president and convicted-plunderer Joseph Estrada, previously ranking third, is now tied with billionaire legislator Manuel Villar for second place.