The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the conduct of special satellite registration activities in jail facilities or detention centers will resume on Sept. 16.
"With the lifting of the Inter Agebcy Task Force (IATF) of the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) status starting 16 September 2021, please be informed that the Special Satellite Registration (SSR) in jail facilities and/or detentions centers are now allowed following the guidelines setforth under Comelec Resolution No. 10711," Comelec Deputy Executive Director for Operations Teopisto Elnas in a Memorandum dated Sept. 14.
Based on Resolution No. 10711, qualified to register in the SSRs are those who are at least 18 years of age on Election Day and/or committed inside the jail facility or detention center for at least six 6 months immediately preceding the Election Day; and are confined in jail facility or detention center, formally charged for any crime and awaiting or undergoing trial, serving sentence of imprisonment for less than one year, or whose conviction is on appeal.
Disqualified to register are persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), who have been sentenced by final judgment to suffer imprisonment of not less than one year; and those, who have been adjudged by final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction or tribunal of having committed any crime involving disloyalty to the duly constituted government, such as rebellion, insurrection, violation of the firearms laws, or any crime against national security.
The Comelec, however, said that an SSR shall be conducted only when: There is at least 50 qualified PDL registrants inside the jail facility or detention center; and the jail facility or detention center has zero COVID-19 case, 14 days prior to the intended SSR.
The voter registration period will end on Sept. 30, 2021.