THE Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Quezon) or the Southern Tagalog region and the National Capital Region (NCR) had the highest number of applicants in the recently concluded voter registration period for the October 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed the Calabarzon had the most number of applicants at 375,453, while Metro Manila came in second with 350,101 aspirants to become registered voters.
Central Luzon came in third with 277,680 applicants, followed by Central Visayas with 175,854; Western Visayas with 136,759; Davao Region with 131,164; Soccsksargen with 130,560; and Bicol Region with 130,089.
The Comelec data also showed Ilocos Region had 127,507 registrants; Northern Mindanao with 114,649; Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with 109,509; and Eastern Visayas with 104,451.
Rounding out the list are Zamboanga Peninsula (83,246), Cagayan Valley (82,997), Mimaropa (69,056), Caraga (64,076), and the Cordillera Administrative Region (34,188).
The Comelec had announced there were 2,497,339 applications for voter registration filed in Offices of Election Officer (OEOs) in all cities and municipalities in the country between December 12, 2022 to January 31, 2023.
With the addition of the 8,982 applications filed in Register Anywhere Project (RAP) booths, the sum was pegged at 2,506,321 individuals looking to vote in the next BSKE.
All applications filed with the Comelec will still have to get the approval of the Election Registration Boards (ERBs).
Under the Voter’s Registration Act, all applications for voter registration should be heard, processed, and approved by the ERBs.
