OVER 188,000 individuals have applied with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to become registered voters for the October 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
In a press conference, Comelec Deputy Executive Director for Operations (DEDO) Rafael Olanio said a total of 188,129 youth and adults have applied to become registered voters for the first time as of December 30.
“The numbers are still relatively low,” said Olanio.
The numbers include 60,491 voters aged 15 to 17 years old; 101,944 voters aged 18 to 30 years old; and 25,694 voters aged 31 years old and above.
Fifteen-to-17-year-old voters can vote in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls, 18 to 30 years old voters for both the barangay and youth polls, and 31 years old and above for the barangay elections.
With voter registration set to end later this month, Olanio renewed the poll body’s call for eligible individuals to register as voters.
“We are inviting those that are qualified but have yet to get registered as SK and/or regular voters to visit their local Comelec offices or satellite registration sites,” he said.
“Please take advantage of this period, until the end of January to get registered and be able to vote in the BSKE,” added Olanio.
The voter registration period resumed nationwide last December 12, 2022 and will run until January 31, 2023.
Voter registration activities are held from Mondays to Saturdays in all city/municipal Offices of Election Officers (OEOs) from 8 am to 5 pm.
