First-time voters in Eastern Visayas have 3 months left until registration deadline
In light of the growing dissatisfaction among Filipinos over the Duterte administration over its governance of the country, civic groups have been active in campaigning for voter registration especially among the youth, first-time voters, and those who have been delisted from voter records.
With just three months until the registration deadline, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has urged the estimated 198,000 first-time voters in Eastern Visayas to register for the 2022 elections.
As of June 5, just 68,076 of the anticipated number of first-time voters have authorized registration, according to Comelec Eastern Visayas regional director Jose Nick Mendros.
Since January 2020, the poll body has been processing new voter registrations and updating the voter list. Registration is available at the Comelec offices from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, including holidays. The deadline is September 30, 2021.
Aside from registering new voters, the Comelec handles the following: transfer of voter record to another area; transfer of voter record within the same city or municipality; reactivation of voter record; change of name or correction of entries; combination of transfer, reactivation, or correction of record; inclusion of record in the book of voters; reinstatement of name in the list of voters; and transfer of voter record from the overseas absentee voting list.
Mendros stated that in order to encourage registrants, electoral officials hold satellite registrations every Saturday in towns and cities designated as low-risk for coronavirus.
“Amid pandemic, strict health protocols are being implemented to prevent the possible spread of the virus, such as the physical distancing and the proper hand sanitation upon entry at the office. The registrants are reminded to wear face masks and face shields, they are also being advised to bring their own pen,” he added.
New voters are individuals who turn 18 on or before Election Day on May 9, 2022, have lived in the Philippines for at least a year, and have lived in the location where they want to vote for at least six months on or before Election Day.
