TO promote transparency and secure the public’s trust on the upcoming national and local elections on May 9, 2022, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set up a livestream of the printing of election ballots, currently being held at the National Printing Office along EDSA in Quezon City.
The livestream feed, which will show the printing, packing and shipping areas, including the quarantine room, will be broadcast on a 24/7 basis, fully uninterrupted, which the public can view through the official Comelec website and Facebook page.
The live feed will show various angles of the areas mentioned to provide the public a sneak peek of the activities inside these areas, including the movement of personnel.
The quarantine room, meanwhile, was set up as a dedicated area for rechecking of ballots that were rejected for various reasons such as irregular margins, smudges, and other ballot deficiencies.
“The livestream will go on for as long as ballots and other election paraphernalia are being printed. Consider this move as our way of communicating to the public that their concerns do not fall on deaf ears, and that the Comele will take all steps necessary to promote transparency and secure public trust for the elections,” explains James Jimenez, Comelec spokesperson.
Aside from the livestreaming, the poll body also put up observation areas in both the NPO and the Comelec warehouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. “Subject to minimum public health standards issued by appropriate authorities, the areas are open to interested political parties, citizens’ groups and other stakeholder,” Jimenez added.