ELECTION watchdog National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) has expressed the need for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to implement a single standard in the listing of candidates on the ballot, among other reforms, to ensure the integrity of votes in the 2022 national and local elections.

Namfrel secretary-general Eric Alvia on Tuesday said the current ballot format has resulted in millions of invalid votes and favors popular candidates and those who belong to well-entrenched political families 'Under the present system, there is no single standard of listing of candidates [on the ballot],' Alvia, in a virtual news briefing, said.