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Monday, August 22, 2005
Comelec resumes listing of new voters for 2007
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has ordered all poll offices in the country to register 16- and 17-year-olds for the May 2007 elections, but segregate their records in case the barangay elections will push through on Oct. 31, 2005.
Those who will turn 18 during the May 2007 elections are included in the continuing registration, but cannot vote in any earlier election.
Poll officials are not ruling out the possibility of a barangay election this October, saying that its postponement has yet to become final.
But in its regular meeting held last July 5, the Comelec en banc admitted that “to date, no funds have been released for the conduct of the barangay elections on Oct. 31, hence the practical impossibility of holding the said electoral exercise.”
Several lawmakers filed their own versions of postponing the barangay elections, citing, among others, a budget deficit and that the country cannot afford another divisive activity.
Separate lists
The move, however, has yet to survive the Senate, said a local Comelec officer, so the commission would still have to prepare.
Considering this, the Comelec central office advised all regional directors, provincial election supervisors and election officers of the need to segregate the registration.
It was Comelec National Capital Region Director Ferdinand Rafanan who sought advice on the matter.
He pointed out that that law provides that no registration shall be conducted 120 days before a regular election and 90 days before a special election.
Rafanan asked for clarification from the Comelec en banc about the continuing registration, since the prohibitive period for the Oct. 31, 2005 elections started July 3.
The Comelec resolved to order all election registration boards to just make a separate list of those who will be allowed to vote this October, just in case. JPM
(August 22, 2005 issue)
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