THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced Saturday, August 15, that voter registration in areas with more relaxed quarantine status may resume in September.
"In areas currently under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), voter registration will automatically resume once the quarantine status is either downgraded to general community quarantine (GCQ), modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), or if quarantine is lifted entirely," Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a statement.
"Voter registration in areas not currently under quarantine, or which are under MGCQ or GCQ, shall automatically be suspended upon the upgrading of their quarantine status," he said.
According to Jimenez, applicants may download and print the official application forms from the agency's official website.
"It is strongly recommended that downloaded forms be filled out before going to the Comelec office for registration, but the forms should be signed only in front of the election officer, at the Comelec office," he said.
He added that the Comelec will impose minimum health standards like limiting the number of people in its offices, requiring the use of face shields and face masks, and physical distancing measures.
A declaration form showing that the applicant is free from Covid-19 will also be part of the agency's requirements.
"Registrants will also be required to fill out a 'Coronavirus Self-Declaration Form,' which discloses information relating to travel, contact with people with known Covid-19 infection, and symptoms being experienced," Jimenez said.
He assured that all Comelec offices nationwide will be disinfected daily.
"In order to ensure safe environment at all times, all Comelec offices nationwide will conduct daily disinfection and decontamination of their premises as well as the voter registration machine and peripherals, furniture equipment, and other frequently touched surfaces," he said.
The Comelec suspended the voter registration many times already due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was first suspended in March, and the latest was until August 31, 2020. (Jove Moya/SunStar Philippines)