PH Consulate in Calgary Conducts Final Testing, Sealing of Vote Counting Machine

Consul General Gilberto Asuque (fifth from left) and Special Board of Election Inspectors Chairperson and Deputy Consul General Zaldy Patron (sixth from left) together with the test voters and members of the Special Board of Election Inspectors and Special Ballot and Reception Custody Group during the conduct of the Final Testing and Sealing of Vote Counting Machinefor the 2019 Philippine National and Local Elections. The FTS was held on 10 April 2019 at the Philippine Consulate General office in Calgary. (Calgary PCG photo)

CALGARY 17 April 2019 —  The Philippine Consulate General in Calgary successfully conducted the Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) of Vote Counting Machine (VCM) on 10 April 2019. The VCM will be used in counting the votes of the registered voters in Calgary for the 2019 Philippine Senatorial and Party List Elections.

The FTS, which was conducted in the presence of test voters, showed that the VCM to be used by the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) for the postal voting in Calgary was in good condition. SBEI Chairperson Zaldy Patron led the conduct of the FTS.

The overseas voting period will start on 13 April 2019 and end on 13 May 2019 at 6:00 PM (Philippine Time).  The Consulate General will mail the packets containing the ballots to registered voters who are expected to accomplish the ballots and mail them back to the Consulate General. The registered voters are expected to buy the postage stamps they will use in mailing their accomplished ballots.

On 13 May 2019 at 4:00 AM, simultaneous with the counting of votes in the Philippines, the SBEI in Calgary will begin counting the ballots it will receive during the 30-day voting period. The counting of votes will be held at the Consulate General office. END

Test voters accomplishing the ballots to be used for the FTS (Calgary PCG photo)

A test voter feeding his accomplished ballot to the VCM during the FTS in the presence of SBEI Chairperson Zaldy Patron. (Calgary PCG photo)

For more information, visit www.calgarypcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinCalgary/.