ILOILO City – There will be more time for Western Visayans to register for the May 2022 polls. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) set a new voters’ registration deadline: Oct. 31.
However, first-time voters would be prioritized, according to Atty. Wilfred Jay Balisado, director of Comelec Region 6.
“Let’s focus our energy and resources doon sa new voters kasi they are the ones na kailangang makaboto,” Balisado told Panay News.
These new voters include those turning 18 years old on or before the May 9 polls.
Comelec-6, meanwhile, is not encouraging people to apply for re-activation, transfer of residence, change of name, and correction of entry, among others.
“These would take our time,” said Balisado.
Balisado encouraged first-time voters to fill out the registration form before going to Comelec offices.
They must bring their school identification card or birth certificate if a valid ID is not yet available.
Comelec will maintain its target registrants per day: 1,200 in Iloilo City and 400 in each election office in Iloilo province.
This is to ensure that election offices will not be overwhelmed by the number of applicants.
There are only two regular Comelec employees and one job order in each election office in the municipal or city level.
NO WEEKENDS
The actual voters’ registration extension will begin on Oct. 11, Mondays to Fridays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
No weekends, clarified Balisado.
“Saturdays would be for administrative works,” he said.
Between Sept. 1 and Sept. 27, Comelec-6 processed 477,236 applications including voters’ registration, re-activation, transfer of residence, change of name, and correction of entry, among others.
Here’s the breakdown of the applications:
* Aklan – 39,674
* Antique – 34,579
* Capiz – 52,934
* Guimaras – 11,414
* Iloilo – 150,347
* Negros Occidental – 188,288
Balisado noted mostly applied for voters’ registration.
Earlier, lawmakers, local chief executives and groups called for an extension of voters’ registration, especially from those areas affected by pandemic-induced lockdowns./PN