Long queues in QC as deadline approaches for voter's registration

By Aaron Dioquino

Long queues of voter registrants have been observed in several Commission on Elections (Comelec) voter registration sites in Quezon City as the deadline to sign up as a voter in the country's future elections looms.

Hundreds of people spent their night outside a mall in North Avenue, Quezon City on Tuesday to be included in the cut-off of 300 registrants per district.

Some people who lined up for hours but failed to make it to the cut-off were advised to return the next day.

Cresila, 29, was one of those who were advised to come back to the Comelec satellite area the next day.

"Nais ko lang makapag-register ngayon para makaboto sa 2022 sa kabila ng haba ng pila at COVID. Hindi na ininda yung puyat, pagod at saka COVID (I just want to be able to register now to vote in 2022 despite the long queue and COVID. We did not mind being deprived of sleep, of standing in line, and COVID)," she told Manila Bulletin.

"Ang naisip ko lang sa mga oras na yun na kailangan ko maka-register para makaboto at makapili ng maayos at tuwid na politika (What was on my mind was the need for me to register, to vote, and choose a good leader)," she added.

Crescila and other registrants are in favor of the extension of the voters' registration period.

"Pabor na pabor po kasi kapos po kasi sa oras yung voters' registration nila. Need talaga maextend dahil sobrang dami pa ng mga tao na hindi nakapagpa register ( I'm in favor because the voter registration period is too short. It really needs to be extended because there are still a lot of people who haven't registered yet),"