The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is hoping to have the same 88-percent local absentee voting (LAV) turnout achieved during the 2022 presidential elections in this year’s midterm elections.

“In the last elections, our turnout in the LAV was 88 percent. Now, I hope we can match that 88 percent, although that was presidential elections, and now we have midterm polls,” Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in an interview on Monday, the start of the three-day LAV for government employees in the military and police, among others, and members of the media.

Garcia said traditionally, voters’ participation in midterm elections is lower compared to presidential elections.

“I hope that since only 57,000 will vote, I hope we can reach that percentage or number. They will not have difficulty in voting, because this is just shading. They don’t have to write names of the candidates,” he said.

A total of 57,689 LAV voters have been approved by the Comelec. These include 29,030 military personnel, 23,448 police personnel, 4,206 government employees, and 1,005 members of the media.

“For the first time for the LAV, we will be using the automated system. Therefore, it will be easier for them to vote since they will just shade the ballots and no longer write the names of their candidates,” Garcia said.

LAV voters have until April 30 to cast their votes for 12 senators and one party-list organization. Voting period be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“The 57,000 LAV voters are critical as they can deliver the votes for somebody such as the 12th slot (for senator),” Garcia said.

“For party-list groups, every vote counts as they will need them to attain the two-percent threshold,” he added. (PNA)