THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Cebu City will be conducting satellite voter registration inside malls starting Monday, July 4, 2022.

The satellite voter registration is aimed at attracting new voters to participate in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on Dec. 5, 2022.

Marchel Sarno, who serves as Cebu City North District election officer, said on Friday, July 1, that the Comelec has decided to conduct off-site registration since its offices cannot accommodate the volume of registrants.

Sarno, a lawyer, said the registration will end on July 28.

Aspiring voters living in Cebu City’s North District may visit the Time Square Mall in Barangay Talamban from July 4 to 6, Robinsons Cybergate Cebu from July 7 to 9, and Robinsons Galleria Cebu from July 18 to 23. In the south district, the Comelec will open its registration site at the SM Seaside City Cebu from July 4 to 16 and at Robinsons Galleria Cebu from July 18 to 23.

While registrations are happening off-site, Sarno said their office won’t accommodate any application for voter’s registration. But services such as the releasing of voter’s certificates and other transactions will continue, Sarno added.

Rules

Comelec Resolution 10798 states that upon registration, the applicant should personally appear before the election officer and present any identification document that bears the person’s photograph and signature.

These include the National ID, employee’s ID, postal ID, student’s ID, NBI clearance, passport, and barangay certification with photo.

The individual who intends to register must also be a resident of the Philippines for at least one year.

The person must also be a resident of the barangay where he or she wants to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the barangay elections.

The resolution also states that a Filipino citizen of “at least 15 but not more than 30 years of age and residing in the barangay for at least six months on or before Dec. 5, 2022,” may register as a voter for the SK election.

Despite suggestions to suspend the barangay and SK elections, Sarno said the Comelec should continue to perform its mandate and one of which is to prepare for the polls.

Last December 2019, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11462, which sets Dec. 5, 2022 as the schedule of barangay and SK elections.