Manila, May 12 -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has started counting the ballots for local absentee voting (LAV), where over 51,000 media practitioners, uniformed personnel, and government workers participated last April.

Comelec Director and Head for LAV Committee Allen Francis Abaya said the turnout at 51,991 this year was much higher than the last midterm elections, where actual local absentee voters were below 50,000.

Abaya said the counting of ballots this year is smoother and more efficient as this is the first time Comelec is using the automated counting machines (ACMs) to count the ballots.

The consolidated results from the LAV will be transmitted by 7 p.m. to the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) to be included in th...