MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has released a revised set of the general instructions (GI) for the board of election inspectors (BEIs) to address the possible shortage of ballots on election day.

Through Resolution No. 8786, the Comelec en banc said that there is a need to revise its earlier GI to "fine tune the process and address procedural gaps" in the coming May 2010 polls.

Under Section 37 of the revised GI, in case all the official election ballots have been used up, the BEI chairman shall issue a certification to the remaining registered voters inside a polling place.

The certification shall state that he is a registered voter of the precinct and that no more ballots are available for use. The chairman shall also document the cases in the minutes.

A third member shall accompany the voter to the next precinct in the same councilor district, where he can cast his vote, the revised instructions cited.

The poll body addressed the possible shortage of ballots following the extended voters' registration by the Supreme Court.(Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)