The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has recorded more than 188,000 new voters who registered since it reopened in December last year.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 3, Comelec Deputy Executive Director for Operations (DEDO) Rafael Olanio stated that voter registration started again on Tuesday and will continue up to the end of January.
From Dec. 12 to 30, Olanio said that for new applicants, for those ages 15 to 17 years old who will both for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections there were 60,491.
For those 18 to 30 years old, who can vote both for the SK and barangay elections, Comelec recorded 101,944; and those 31 and above who will vote only for the barangay elections, Comelec recorded 25,694.
"All in all yung mga rgeular 126,000 na po. Medyo kaunti pa po ito (For the regular this is 126,000. This is relatively low)," Olanio said.
Due to this, he made a renewed call for those who have not registered and are qualified to register to vote for SK as well as regular voters, to head to the nearest Comelec office or satellite offices and malls to register.
Olanio told the public to take advantage of this time until the end of the month to register and vote during the BSKE.
Comelec formally opened the voters' registration in all of its offices in all cities and municipalities on Dec 12. According to the poll body, a good number of registrants was seen in cities where population is high.
According to Comelec, the registration process only lasts up to 10 minutes if:
- The registrant arrives at the registration site with a fully-accomplished Application Form;
- All the information stated in the Application Form is correct;
- If the application as a new voter, reapplication, or transfer is correct;
- Answered the interview accurately;
- Brought valid IDs
Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco also urged the public not to wait for the last week of the registration before going to the respective Comelec offices near them.