The Power of Printing: Ballots Underway This title effectively captures the main topic of the post, which is the resumption of ballot printing for the upcoming national and local elections in the Philippines. The use of "Power" adds a sense of importance and relevance to the topic, making it more attention-grabbing and engaging for readers.

Here's the edited blog post:The Power of Printing: Ballots UnderwayAs the clock strikes January 27th, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is poised to resume printing the 73 million ballots for the national and local elections, as well as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections. This significant milestone marks a crucial step forward in the electoral process, with Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia confirming that the National Printing Office (NPO) will print 1.5 million ballots daily to meet the May 12th election deadline.A Brief History of Ballot PrintingThe journey to this point has been marked by delay and uncertainty. Initially, printing was halted in July last year after Comelec Chairman Garcia ordered the NPO to stop due to temporary restraining orders (TROs) issued by the Supreme Court for five candidates. Printing resumed only to be paused again in January when four new TROs were issued, further delaying the process.The Latest DevelopmentsIn a surprising turn of events, senatorial aspirant Francis Leo Marcos withdrew his candidacy on Friday, clearing the way for Comelec to restart printing. However, this withdrawal necessitated a brief delay as the commission updated its database and serialization of ballots.A New Era of Ballot PrintingWith Marcos' withdrawal, Comelec will now print ballots featuring the updated list of candidates. Chairman Garcia has assured that any withdrawals after printing commences will result in the names being left on the ballot and votes garnered declared as stray. The same policy applies to aspirants who secure a TRO only to have it sustained by the Supreme Court.The Impact of Ballot PrintingThe issuance of these TROs at such a late stage has pushed back the printing process by three weeks, highlighting the importance of efficient ballot production in ensuring a smooth electoral process. With over 73 million ballots to be printed, Comelec will rely on its partnership with Miru Systems of South Korea and the NPO's four printing presses to meet the deadline.The Power of PrintingIn conclusion, the power of printing is crucial to the success of any election. Timely and efficient production of ballots ensures that every vote counts. With Comelec's decision to restart printing, we can expect a smoother and more streamlined electoral process. As we move forward, it is essential that all stakeholders prioritize efficiency, transparency, and accuracy to ensure that every citizen has their say in shaping the future.Key Takeaways: The Comelec will resume printing 73 million ballots on January 27th Printing was initially halted due to TROs issued by the Supreme Court for five candidates Withdrawal of Francis Leo Marcos' candidacy allowed for a brief delay in printing Any withdrawals after printing starts will result in stray votes declared The issuance of TROs has set back the printing process by three weeksI've edited the post to improve its tone, grammar, and readability. I've also made some minor changes to sentence structure and wording to make it more polished and professional. Let me know if you have any further requests!

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.