THE special elections in Shanghai, China for overseas voters will push through regardless of whether it will be material to the results of the May 2022 polls or not.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) made this statement Friday, May 13, saying the special elections being planned for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19)-hit city will be conducted even if it comes after the proclamation of winning candidates and partylists.
"For Shanghai, we would be setting the special elections there. Let us remember that the main goal of the Comelec is to not disenfranchise any voter," said acting Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco in a press briefing.
"Even if it comes after the proclamation, or even if it won't have any effect, it is their right to vote. We cannot take that away," he added.
Laudiangco said they will hold the special elections for the 1,900 registered overseas voters in Shanghai as soon as the lockdown due to Covid-19 is lifted.
He said it is also dependent on when will the Philippines be allowed to send out the official ballots that will allow Filipinos there to cast their votes via postal voting.
"We must first know when will the reason for postponement be removed. In this case, the lockdown in China needs to be lifted first," he said.
But with the continued suspension of elections in Shanghai causing delays in the transmission of poll results from the rest of mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, the poll official said they are looking to allow the available Certificates of Canvass (COC) to be transported ahead.
To note, the COC from Hong Kong was supposed to include those from Hong Kong, Macau, and all posts from mainland China.
"They would be generating the COC for HK, which include HK, Macau, and other parts of mainland China," said Laudiangco.
To recall, overseas voting in Shanghai, China failed to open after the area was put on strict lockdown due to the surge in Covid-19 cases. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)