Applicants flock to the Comelec office in Quezon City on September 30, 2024, the last day of voter registration. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday started its nationwide distribution of voter’s information sheets (VIS) for the May polls. 

The VIS is a four-page document containing vital information for voters, such as the location of their voting precinct, instructions on how to use vote-counting machines, and a list of candidates. 

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Comelec Chairman George Garcia, who led the VIS distribution launch in Pasay City, urged voters to bring the document to the polling precinct on election day. He also told the public to be wary of sample ballots distributed by candidates, as these could contain inaccurate information. 

“Sana kapag pupunta sila sa mismong presinto sa araw ng halalan sa Mayo 12, sana po dala dala nila yung VIS na may parang kodigo diyan na lang po yung kanilang basehan ng pagboto,” he said. 

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The Comelec is undertaking a massive distribution effort, with 1,667 VIS phases across the country. Each city and municipality’s VIS will contain localized information. 

Comelec personnel are also tasked to verify the voter addresses while distributing the VIS. 

“Challenge talaga dito yung sisiguraduhin mo na yun yung nakatira sa bahay na yan… D’yan din namin malalaman kung accurate yung address na binigay samin nung nagparehistro sila,” Garcia said. 

He said the Comelec aimed to deliver the VIS to over 68 million registered voters before the end of April. He added that reports on the distribution’s progress would be provided weekly. 

About two weeks before the election, a precinct finder would be made available, allowing voters to easily locate their assigned polling place.  

Garcia said voters should not worry in case they misplace their VISs, as voter assistance desks would be set up at polling precincts. 

Trisha, a voter who received a VIS, said the document would be a big help on election day.

“Kahit bumoboto ako for sure may mga hindi pa rin ako tamang alam na guidelines so mas maganda na mapag-aralan ko siya before ulit ako bumoto… So eto lang yung chance na mapag-aralan natin siya ulit. Kasi importante siya na kailangan pagdating mo sa botohan handa ka rin hindi lang yung mga nangangandidato kundi pati yung bumoboto,” she said. 

“Tagalog din siya so maiintindihan siya ng masa,” she added. 

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