By Leslie Ann Aquino Voters were urged by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to make use of the ongoing voter registration to update their records. Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez
(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN) Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez particularly issued the call to persons with disability (PWDs) and other vulnerable sectors. "We wish to remind the voting public, especially persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and members of indigenous peoples or indigenous cultural communities and other members of vulnerable sectors, to update their records during the 20-month-long registration period,” he said in a statement. "They may notify the Comelec of their type of disability and the form of assistance needed on Election Day by filling out the Supplementary Data Form." He said they may also signify their intent to vote in an Accessible Polling Place (APP) which is a separate polling place exclusively for their use. Meanwhile, the Comelec said the second week of voter registration (Jan. 27 to Feb. 1) for the May 2022 polls yielded 81,807 applications. Since local voter registration resumed last Jan. 20, the Comelec has already processed 187,777 applications. The poll body said female applicants outnumber males at 103,729 to 84,048, respectively. Applications for transfer of registration record of overseas voters for week two, on the other hand, amounted to 455. Jimenez reminded overseas voters on the deadline of application for transfers from overseas to a Philippine municipality, city, or district. "Overseas voters who intend to vote in the Philippines on May 9, 2022 should take note of the deadline of application for transfer of registration record from overseas to local, which is August 31, 2021," he said. Voter registration for all qualified Filipino citizens abroad resumed on Dec. 16, 2019 and will end on Sept. 30, 2021.