UP to 400,000 individuals are expected to be added to the list of registered voters for the December 2022 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
In a televised public briefing yesterday, acting Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said they expect at least 300,000 to 400,000 individuals registering for the three-week voter registration period ending on July 23.
“We are currently over 65 million plus registered voters and we expect that this will be increased by around 300,000 to 400,000,” said Laudiangco. “This would mean that we would have about 66 million registered voters for the barangay elections.”
He added the poll body expects the number of SK voters to rise to around 23 million.
“We are estimating that those voting in the SK will reach about 23 million,” he said. “The composition of the entire 23 million will be those aged 15 to 30 years old.”
Last Monday, the Comelec opened the voter registration period ahead of the December 2022 village and youth polls.
Laudiangco ruled out the possibility of extending voter registration, saying: “The reason why we only have three weeks to get registered is because of the Republic Act 8189 saying there must be no voter registration activities 120 days before elections.”
Laudiangco also said they will continue preparing for the polls amid talks of possible postponement.
Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, the incoming Speaker of the House, had earlier said they are looking at proposals to postpone the barangay and SK elections and instead use the funds for the country’s pandemic response.
“Setting the date of the elections is up to Congress. For now, the law sets the next barangay and SK elections on December 5, 2022. But if it would be rescheduled, the Comelec will adhere to it,” said Laudiangco.
“But until there is a new law and the old one remains in effect, we will prepare to hold the barangay and SK election on December 5, 2022,” he added.
Laudiangco said they will also prepare poll personnel in conducting manual elections.
“What is good here is even if we have already procured the supplies and the elections are postponed, it won’t be a problem,” he said.
