Those who wish to register for the December Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls better register now as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said an extension of the voter registration period is very unlikely.
Comelec Acting Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said extending the deadline of the voter registration beyond July 23 is unlikely citing a provision in the law.
"In the matter of extension, it is very unlikely po as Sec. 8 of Republic Act 8189 provides that no registration shall, however, be conducted during the period starting 120 days before a regular election. This prohibition, counted from Dec. 5, 2022, will start on August 7, 2022," he said in an interview.
This, Laudiangco said, is the reason why they have the following limited schedule:
From July 4 to 23, 2022: Receipt of Applications for Registration, Reactivation, Transfer, Change of Name/Correction of Entries, Reinstatement/Inclusion in the List of Voters and Transfer from Overseas Post to Local.
July 25, 2022: Last day to post or publish applications
July 28, 2022: Last day of Receipt of Oppositions to Applications
August 1, 2022: Election Registration Board Hearing.
August 2 to 6,2022: Verification in the National List of Registered Voters (cleansing/abatement of multiple registrants), including verification with the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS); drafting and Approval of Project of Precincts; and establishment/Splitting/Merger/Clustering/Creation of Precincts.
"This is how limited our timelines are in order to comply with laws," said Laudiangco.