Polls open in Antipolo 2nd District for special election to replace Romeo Acop

MANILA, Philippines – Voters in Antipolo’s 2nd District began heading to voting precincts on Saturday morning, March 14, to elect a new congressional representative following the death of its longtime lawmaker Romeo Acop in December.

Polling precincts opened early for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant voters, who were allowed to cast their ballots as early as 5 am.

Regular voting hours began at 7 am and will last until 3 pm. Write-in ballots are being used, which means voters are required to clearly write the name of their preferred candidates.

Six candidates are in the running, including National Unity Party candidate Philip Acop, the son of the late congressman who is seeking to retain the seat long held by his family.

The counting of ballots and canvassing of election returns from the district’s 348 clustered precincts will be manual.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia previously said the winner may be proclaimed on March 15, once the board of canvassers completes the tally. – Jia Erikah Fajardo/Rappler.com

Jia Erikah Fajardo is a journalism student at Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Manila and the features editor of its official student publication The LANCE. She is currently a Rappler intern.