A total of 927 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) detained in various jail facilities across Negros Oriental have been cleared to vote in the May 12 midterm elections, according to the Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR).

Regional election director Lionel Marco Castillano said yesterday that, unlike in previous elections, PDLs can now vote for both national and local candidates, provided they are registered in the areas where they are detained.

On election day, a special board of election inspectors will be deployed to jail facilities to oversee the voting process.

“PDLs will use official ballots just like regular voters, but no automated counting machines will be placed inside jails,” Castillano said.

Instead, completed ballots will be collected, sealed in envelopes, and transported to designated voting precincts, where they will be officially registered and fed into the automated counting machines.

Castillano added that PDLs who were registered before their detention would require a court order for escorted voting outside the jail.

According to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Negros Oriental, as of January 28, the 927 registered PDL voters are spread across several detention facilities: Bais City (107), Vallehermoso (66), Manjuyod (28), Dumaguete City Male Dorm (72), Canlaon City (51), Bayawan City (179), Guihulngan City (138), Mabinay (77), and Tanjay City (209).

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Negros Oriental chief administrator Chief Inspector Julia Sale noted that the number of eligible PDL voters could still change with new detainees or releases in the coming months. (PNA)