Negros Oriental: A total of 927 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) detained in various jail facilities across Negros Oriental have been cleared to vote in the May 12 midterm elections, according to the Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR).

According to Philippines News Agency, regional election director Lionel Marco Castillano stated that, unlike in previous elections, PDLs can now vote for both national and local candidates, provided they are registered in the areas where they are detained. On election day, a special board of election inspectors will be deployed to jail facilities to oversee the voting process.

Castillano explained that PDLs will use official ballots just like regular voters, but no automated counting machines will be placed inside jails. Instead, completed ballots will be collected, sealed in envelopes, and transported to designated voting precincts where they will be officially registered and fed into the automated counting machines. He added that PDLs who were registered before their detention would require a court order for escorted voting outside the jail.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Negros Oriental reported that as of January 28, the 927 registered PDL voters are distributed across several detention facilities: Bais City (107), Vallehermoso (66), Manjuyod (28), Dumaguete City Male Dorm (72), Canlaon City (51), Bayawan City (179), Guihulngan City (138), Mabinay (77), and Tanjay City (209). BJMP-Negros Oriental chief administrator Chief Insp. Julia Sale noted that the number of eligible PDL voters could still change with new detainees or releases in the coming months.