The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has confirmed that the 2.3 million official ballots prepared for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) elections will not be included in the disposal of 6 million printed ballots. According to the COMELEC, these ballots are not covered by the Supreme Court’s directive and will remain usable as they are separate from the ballots for senatorial candidates.
COMELEC earlier suspended the printing of ballots following the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) by the Supreme Court concerning the disqualification of five senatorial candidates. One of the aspirants had been declared a nuisance candidate and excluded from the official ballot. However, the Supreme Court mandated the inclusion of this candidate, necessitating changes to the ballot design.
As a result, approximately ₱132 million worth of ballots will be rendered unusable and subsequently destroyed. Each ballot costs ₱22, bringing the total loss to a significant amount.
Residents have expressed concerns over the potential misuse of these original ballots, as COMELEC previously clarified that voting machines would accept them due to their authenticity. The commission has yet to provide further details on measures to ensure the secure disposal of the invalidated ballots to prevent any potential irregularities.