MANILA — More residents in Malolos, Bulacan have participated in this year's midterm polls based on an official estimate at the Baraosoain Memorial Integrated School in Malolos on Monday afternoon.

It surpassed that of the 2023 barangay elections at the voting area with the largest number of registered voters in the city and there’s still a couple of hours left before polling precincts close.

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Department of Education Supervising Official (DESO) Joey Cabigao believe this is due to the introduction of the 5am to 7am early voting period for senior citizens, Persons with Disabilities, and pregnant women.

“'Di po namin expect na early voting period pa lang po napakahaba na ng ating pila… Good indicator, mas maraming gustong mag-exercise ng ating voting rights ngayon pong taon na ito,” said Cabigao. 

One precinct continued to see long lines all the way to the afternoon. It even took food delivery rider JR Llarento more than hours of waiting before getting to cast his vote.

But he said he already anticipated this.

“Kahapon naman po sumagad ako ng biyahe kaya ok lang late magbiyahe ngayon… para makapag-ambag din sa pagboto,” he said. 

Meanwhile, a bread vendor took advantage of the opportunity to cater to more customers and earn more money. Nestor Peña started going around selling bread at the school after he himself voted there. 

“Bihira po kasi mangyari yung ganito karaming tao, mabili. Actually pangalawang balik ko na… pantawid gutom habang nakapila sila,” said Peña.

Not everyone who came was able to vote though. One former Overseas Filipino Worker was surprised to find that her name was not on the list of voters.

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She said she was not aware that she had to update her data with the Commission on Elections after previously registering for absentee voting in Morocco back in 2022. 

“Hindi ko alam na kailangan pala bago magbotohan, from nasa abroad ka pag-uwi mo kailangan mo mag-follow up… Sayang ang boto ko kasi baka yung isang boto na yun ang ikapapanalo ng dapat na may magagawa sa Pilipinas. Naiinis po ako, hindi ko matanggap,” said Heydee Villaluz.

She said she hopes that the COMELEC will do better in terms of information dissemination among OFWs next elections.

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Filipinos worldwide can also stay updated on election-related news and results via the “Halalan” page on ABS-CBN.com.