NEWS | COMELEC behind 4M new voters target, eyes satellite registration
By Elaine Diaz
In preparation for the upcoming 2022 national and local elections, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) revealed that there are 1,117,528 new registered voters as of January 14, however, this is behind their target of four million new voters. While the COMELEC considers the fear of COVID-19 transmission as one factor in the low turnout of registrations, they urge the public to register as they plan to introduce satellite registration in different parts of the country to meet the target.
No extension yet
After the imposed lockdown started on March 9, 2020, the registration only resumed on September 1, 2020.
As of press time, the registration period is set to end on Sept. 30, 2021 and no extension has been decided yet. However, they noted a possible adjustment on the schedule and venue of the voting registration.
Voter registrations are currently conducted from Mondays to Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at all Office of Election Officers (OEOs) nationwide. Commissioner Rowena Guanzon stated that they are currently waiting for the decision of the COMELEC en banc on the extension of registration hours and holding of barangay registrations.
Meanwhile, in a tweet, Guanzon also urged the public to register. “Wear face masks and shields, bring your own ballpen, and go to COMELEC. We have alcohol,” she wrote.
CALABARZON noted the most registrants with 167, 709 followed by Central Luzon and Metro Manila with 125, 360, and 117, 991 respectively. Meanwhile, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) reported the least number of applications with a total of 17, 337 together with CARAGA 34, 051 and Eastern Visayas 35, 478.
Satellite registration
In line with this, COMELEC is eyeing satellite registration activities to boost the number of voter registration applications. In a virtual forum conducted last January 18, COMELEC spokesperson James Jimenez stated that satellite registration can be rolled out by the end of January.
The fear of COVID-19 transmission is considered to be a determining factor in the number of voter applications. Guanzon noted that residents are probably waiting for the barangay registration since public transportation poses a risk of transmission.
Furthermore, the OEO stated that cities and municipalities with zero COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days before the scheduled conduct of satellite registration are allowed to continue.
Meanwhile, for overseas voting, Guanzon stressed that a discussion with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will be held to discuss if Filipinos abroad will be allowed to register online. Since the biometrics are included in the passports, Filipinos no longer need to go to the embassy to register.
