MANILA, Philippines - A Commission on Elections (Comelec) official on Thursday said he will ask the commission en banc to issue a resolution next Tuesday asking both houses of Congress to fast-track bills that would allow for early voting in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other election hotspots in the country.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said the poll body is open to conducting special elections in election hotspots all over the country to avoid the long queues and possible election-related violence on Election Day.

"In the light of so many requests coming from reform groups in the ARMM region, I think this is one area where early voting can be done and other hotpots based on the listing that will be given by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines," Sarmiento told a congressional oversight committee hearing.

Sarmiento said early voting could be done two weeks before the May 10, 2010 elections. "Two weeks would suffice for early voting in ARMM and other hotspots. The results will be preserved and kept until the actual counting, to coincide with the actual counting," he said.

The PNP earlier said it has identified 76 potential election hotspots in the country. The Department of National Defense (DND), meanwhile, warned that 132 "politically connected" armed groups could affect the outcome of the polls.

The poll commissioner said Congress should pass a law that allows for early voting since the Omnibus Election Code only allows for special elections "for any serious cause such as violence, terror, loss and destruction of election paraphernalia and force majeure."

He said the Comelec previously conducted special elections in areas where there is failure of elections.

A bill has been filed in the lower House by Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo which calls for earlier elections in the provinces of the ARMM to ensure peace during the electoral exercise.

Sen. Richard Gordon and Cagayan de Oro 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez have also filed bills, seeking early elections. Rodriguez said voter turnout increased by 7.4 % in 24 US states where early voting is allowed.

Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr., meanwhile, asked Comelec to allow media practitioners to vote early in the May 2010 polls.