More than 700,000 ‘flying voters’ found on voters’ list

Monday, 15 March 2010 01:44 PM Fidelis Angela Tan

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has confirmed the existence of more than 700,000 voters with double or multiple registration records on the voters’ list, raising fears that “flying voters” or those who vote more than once might upset the elections in May.

Comelec’s citizen arm, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, (PPCRV) earlier found 40,000 “double, multiple or dead registrants” in Davao City. Lawyer Howard Calleja of the elections watch group earlier said that if the number of such registrants was the same in 80 other provinces, there is a likelihood of around 3 million anomalous voters in the voters’ list.

Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal refuted the claim, saying a total number of 704,542 multiple registrants was discovered. According to the poll body, their Information and Technology Department (ITD) discovered the anomalies through algorithmic matching.

Comelec has since come out with Resolution No. 8791 which seeks to delete the additional records of all multiple registrants. It also directs the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) not to allow those found with two or more registration records to vote in the upcoming elections. In addition, it resolves to delete the records of the potential flying voters in the next Election Registration Board (ERB) hearings.

The poll body has asked the Election and Barangay Affairs Department to coordinate with the ITD in implementing the resolution. Comelec added that a list of all those with anomalous records has already been distributed to all Election Officials concerned.

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