By Leslie Ann Aquino
Those raring to register for the May, 2022, national and local polls will have to wait for September as the suspension of voter registration has been extended until August 31.
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said the commission en banc decided to extend the suspension of voter registration upon the request of their field personnel.
"Our field personnel requested for the extension so as to ensure their safety and the safety of the public. We agreed," she said in an interview.
"By the end of August 31, we hope that the COVID-19 pandemic would have ebbed," added Guanzon.
The Comelec extended the suspension of voter registration and all voter registration activities in the country up to June 30, 2020 due to COVID-19 and the extension of the enhanced community quarantine.
“The conduct of voter registration is not yet advisable since there will be restrictions on the movement of people and on certain activities,” COMELEC Executive Director Bartolome J. Sinocruz, Jr. said .
"The period from May 1 to June 30 will give the Commission time to put in place anti-COVID-19 measures in relation to the conduct of the registration of voters once it resumes,” he added.
As early as March 9, all Comelec offices in all cities and municipalities nationwide were directed to suspend voter registration until March
31.
On March 27, the poll body resolved to reschedule the lifting of the suspension from March 31 to April 30.
The voter registration period for the May, 2022 polls began on January 20, 2020 and was scheduled to run until September 30, 2021.