FILIPINOS looking to make their votes count come the May 2022 national and local polls may begin registering as voters when the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) resumes the registration period on January 20.
Based on COMELEC Resolution No. 10635, the poll body has set the period to register as voters from January 20 to September 30, 2021.
"The Commission has decided to commence the resumption of voters this month, instead of on July 6, 2020, in view of the postponement
of the May 11, 2020 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections pursuant to Republic Act. No 8189," said the COMELEC.
No voter registration, however, will be conducted on April 9 and 10, 2020 (Maundy Thursday and Good Friday), December 25, 2020 (Christmas Day), and April 1 and 2, 2021 (Maundy Thursday and Good Friday).
The poll body also pointed that for the whole province of Palawan, only residents of Puerto Princesa City will be able to register as voters starting January 20.
This, it explained, is in order to give way to the forthcoming plebiscite to ratify the division of Palawan into three provinces.
"In view of the conduct of the plebiscite in the 23 municipalities of the province of Palawan on May 11, 2020, registration there will not be conducted," said the COMELEC.
Qualified to register as voters are those who will be at least 18 years of age on or before Election Day, or on May 9, 2022; who is a resident in the Philippines for at least 1 year; and in the place where he
or she intends to vote for at least 6 months on or before Election Day.
On the other hand, it said registered voters as of the May 13, 2019 midterm elections need not apply anew.
During the registration period, the Commission said applications for registration, transfer of registration records, change/correction of entries in the registration record, reactivation of registration record, and reinstatement of name in the list of voters will be accepted.
The COMELEC said Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens as well as members of Indigenous Peoples or Indigenous Cultural Communities and other members of vulnerable sectors may also update their registration records.
Applications and updating of records, the Commission said, shall be done personally at the Office of the Election Officer of the city or municipality where the applicant resides from Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 am to 5 pm. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)