Significant increase in voters expected this October

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) expects a significant increase in the number of voters in Negros Occidental this October, with the continuation of voters’ registration.

Lawyer Jessie Suarez, provincial Comelec supervisor, said it was observed this month that more would-be voters for the 2013 elections visit the Comelec offices to register and beat the deadline. The registration will continue until October 31.

To hasten the registration of voters, Comelec Manila sent to Negros Occidental 22 additional voting registration machines. Four of these were given to Bacolod City and the rest were distributed to other Comelec offices in the province.

As of August 22, Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, has a total of 1,436,019 voters.

Per record from the Comelec provincial office, Negros Occidental has a 1,195,793 total number of registered voters, while Bacolod City has 240,226.

The first district of the province has total registered voters of 188,113, while the second district has 164,893; third district - 235,502; fourth district - 190,390; fifth district - 209,729; and sixth district - 207,166.

As to the total number of precincts, Comelec records show that the province has 8,122 established precincts with 3,465 clustered precincts, while Bacolod City has 1,655 established precincts (772 clustered precincts). (TDE)