The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has started the nationwide deployment of official ballots and other election paraphernalia to be used in the May 12 midterm elections.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Comelec said initial deliverables have been shipped to six areas in Mindanao, namely Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, and the Special Geographic Area.

“In accordance with set timelines, the Commission on Elections commenced at exactly 12 a.m. of April 22, 2025, the deployment of the Official Ballots (OBs, ACM-readable) from its Santa Rosa City Warehouse (Laguna),” the poll body said.

The initial batch that was deployed consisted of 3,576 boxes containing 2,378,828 official ballots and accompanying boxes containing indelible ink.

The ballots, as well as other election forms, documents, and supplies, will be turned over to city and municipal treasurers for safekeeping and distribution, the Comelec said.

The Comelec added it is set to complete the deployment of some 110,000 automated counting machines (ACMs) by April 25, less than a month after it started on April 4.

As for the Starlink transmission devices that are intended for voting centers and canvassing venues in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), the poll body said the delivery is expected to be completed by the last week of April.

“As of today, more than 80% of said Starlink units have been delivered and fully installed in GIDA-located public schools/facilities to be used as voting centers, as well as in legislative halls, which will serve as municipal or city canvassing venues,” it said.

Precinct/post finder

Meanwhile, the Comelec said registered voters in and out of the country can now access its online precinct finder to know the precinct and polling center where they will cast their votes on May 12.

According to the poll body, the precinct finder will allow registered voters to determine their registration status and their assigned post/clustered precinct, as well as the voting center or school where they are assigned to vote on election day.

The online platform will ask users to provide personal information such as full name, birth date, and place of registration.

After accessing the site, the system will display the complete name of the voter, together with the place of registration, as well as if the voter’s registration is active or inactive.

“Please note that the information displayed will be based on the latest data submission by Comelec Field Offices and Philippine Embassies and Posts, and the exact data provided by the voters during voter registration as reflected in the Comelec National List of Registered Voters,” the Comelec said. (PNA)