Philippines: Voting hours may extend due to heavy rain in Dasmariñas special election

In Dasmariñas City, Philippines, voters cast their ballots in a special election under heavy rain, prompting the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to consider extending voting hours. The decision hinges on the prevailing weather conditions and the accessibility of polling precincts for citizens.

Comelec chair George Garcia stated that the possibility of extending voting hours beyond the scheduled 3 p.m. closing time is being evaluated. "If it’s still raining until 3 p.m., we’ll see if Comelec can extend the voting, but we still haven’t made a decision on that," Garcia said. He added that the primary factor is whether voters can physically get to their polling stations.

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If it’s still raining until 3 p.m., we’ll see if Comelec can extend the voting, but we still haven’t made a decision on that.

"If our countrymen really can’t leave their homes, and at the same time they have difficulty voting, that’s force majeure," Garcia explained, indicating that extreme weather preventing participation would be considered an unavoidable circumstance.

The special election aims to fill the congressional seat vacated by former lawmaker Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga. Regular voting began at 7 a.m., with early voting for seniors, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women starting at 5 a.m. Cavite province, including Dasmariñas City, is under an orange rainfall warning, anticipating significant rainfall.

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If our countrymen really can’t leave their homes, and at the same time they have difficulty voting, that’s force majeure.