MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will start printing the official ballots for the October 13 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) on September 8 at the National Printing Office in Quezon City.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the printing of more than 2.3 million ballots, including verification, is expected to be completed within seven days.

“Based on what the Project Management Office (PMO) has said, this (printing) could happen by Sept. 8 so that we can better study and see the entirety of the law,” Garcia said in an interview. “It won’t be difficult for the Comelec to complete because it’s only 2.3 to 2.4 million ballots.”

The poll body earlier reset the printing, initially scheduled for Thursday, after receiving information that the bill distributing seven parliamentary seats could affect the ballot design.

Following a Supreme Court ruling excluding Sulu from the Bangsamoro region, the seats were reallocated as follows: Lanao del Sur, 9; Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, 5 each; Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, 4 each; Cotabato City, 3; and the Special Geographic Area, 2. (PNA)