There is no need for voters to disenfranchise themselves in the party-list elections just to make sure their votes for president are counted.
CLAIM: Votes for Robredo will be invalidated by voting for a party-list group as ballot ovals for the latter are directly behind her name
RATING: FALSE
Messages circulating in online chat groups falsely claim that votes for presidential candidate Leni Robredo will be invalidated by voting for a party-list group as ballot ovals for the latter are directly behind her name.
These messages also gave the wrong advice that it would be better not to vote for a party-list group so as not to affect the votes for Robredo, who is No. 10 on the ballot.
First, the instructions for voting on the ballot itself are clear: voters may shade the ovals corresponding to their choice using the marking pen provided. We reproduce the instructions below:
“INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING
(1) Completely blacken the inside of the circle beside the name of the desired candidate.
(2) Use only the marking pen provided for blackening the circles.
(3) Do not blacken more circles than what is intended.”
A check on the bid document for the 2022 elections showed that the Precinct-Based Optical Mark Reader (OMR) for the Vote Counting Machine (VCM) to be used on May 9 “shall be able to recognize ink marks on the ballot and count the corresponding votes accurately.”
Moreover, the OMR/OpScan “shall provide the voter a system of verification (display in the screen and voter receipt) to find out whether or not the machine has registered his choice.”
The VCM manufacturer, Smartmatic, states on its website that “Ballots can be inserted into the Precinct Scanner in any orientation, and both sides can be read simultaneously, optimizing the voting and counting processes.”
There is therefore no need for voters to disenfranchise themselves in the party-list elections just to make sure their votes for president are counted.
This fact-check was produced by PressOne.PH as part of a fact-checking grant from the Philippine Fact-Checker Incubator (PFCI) Project. The PFCI supports news organizations to allow them to meet global fact-checking standards under the International Fact-Checking Network’s Code of Principles.
PressOne.PH believes that fact-checking is essential to combating misinformation and disinformation, and in informing and educating citizens and voters. Read more of PressOne.PH’s Fact-Checking Policy by clicking here.
The public is welcome to send feedback or requests for fact-checks at news@pressone.ph.
FACT-CHECK: Actress’ photo used in false comparison of Filipina life before, during colonialism
The photo in question is that of the actress Ayen Munji-Laurel, who portrayed the role of ‘Hara Lingayan’ in the primetime historical fiction ‘Amaya’ that aired from 2011 to 2012 on the GMA Network.
FACT-CHECK: Hoax messages raise false alarm over exposure to ‘cosmic rays’
Hoax messages claiming that harmful cosmic rays were set to pass close to earth have circulated anew, coinciding with a rare total solar eclipse in North America on April 8, 2024.
FACT-CHECK: 10 mga post online na maaaring pinaniniwalaan ng mga bata
Alam naman nating lahat kung gaano kalaki ngayon ang problema natin sa paglaganap ng mali-maling impormasyon, lalo na sa social media. Sa pakikipagtulungan ng PressOnePH at ng RedBin Philippines, ito ang aming pag-fact check sa mga claims na pinaniniwalaan ng ilang mga bata online.