The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced that the shading threshold for official ballots in the May 2025 midterm elections will be set at 15 percent, allowing even a small dot to count as a valid vote.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia explained that this decision followed the approval of a proposal by the Project Management Office, aiming to ensure that all votes exceeding the threshold are counted.
Previously, shading thresholds varied, with the lowest being 20 percent in the 2010 elections, while thresholds for the 2013 and 2016 elections were at 50 percent and 25 percent for the 2019 and 2022 elections.
Garcia emphasized that voters should aim to fully shade the ovals next to their candidates’ names for clarity, despite the lower threshold.
He also called on candidates and political parties to assist the Comelec in educating the public about proper voting practices.
Source: PhilNews24 | November 3, 2024
