THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday refused to reverse its decision not to hold voter registration activities in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ.
Several groups have asked the Comelec to extend the voter registration deadline, or to continue to entertain voter applicants in areas under lockdown after it suspended voter registration activities in all areas under ECQ and MECQ, including the National Capital Region (NCR).
The Comelec has announced that there would be no extension of the September 30 deadline as this would affect the timeline for the 2022 synchronized national and local elections.
Elections spokesman James Jimenez reiterated voter registration activities are allowed only in areas under general community quarantine and modified GCQ.
“Comelec policy has always been clear: No registration in non-GCQ (general community quarantine) or MGCQ (modified GCQ) areas,” said Jimenez.
Jimenez also rejected the proposal to consider voter registration applicants as Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs), saying that voter appllicants do not qualify under the APOR classification system.
As of the latest tally, the Comelec has enlisted 61.06 million registered voters for the May 2022 elections.
