The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday, July 30, said the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR) will have an impact on the ongoing voter registration for the May 2022 polls.
"The return of NCR to a state of ECQ will undoubtedly have an impact on voter registration numbers," Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a statement.
However, the poll official pointed that they have already exceeded their projection.
"It bears remembering that the Comelec has, in fact, already exceeded expectations for voter registration during a pandemic," Jimenez said.
"More than 4 million newly eligible voters are already included in the voter rolls, and we have already blown past earlier and lower projections of the total number of voters registered for the 2022 National and Local Elections," he added.
Although the Comelec strives continuously to register more eligible citizens, Jimenez said the top priority should be the safety and health of the electorate.
"When the appropriate authorities deem it safe to lift these current restrictions, the Comelec will promptly resume its services to the public," he said.
"Until then, however, the Comelec will not shirk its role - however small that might be - in assuring the success of the country’s pandemic response," added Jimenez.
On Friday, Malacañang announced the approval of the proposal to place Metro Manila under ECQ from August 6 to 20.
The Comelec said voter registration in NCR will be suspended during the ECQ.
The voter registration period is set to end on September 30.