THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said the recently-concluded 10-day voter registration period is so far the “most successful” list-up it has held due to the high turnout of applicants.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said 2,727,643 applicants participated during the August 1 to 10 voter registration period.
“This is the most successful registration in our history of voter registration. We’re very happy. In 10 days, almost 2.8 million registered,” said Garcia.
“Whatever their reasons are, we will honestly tell you that it was completely unexpected on the part of the Commission,” he also said.
Data released by the Comelec showed that on the last day of voter registration on August 10, some 590,639 individuals nationwide filed their applications.
Calabarzon had the highest number of total applicants with 324,017, followed by Negros Island Region with 234,032; Central Luzon with 220,650; and Bicol Region with 206,845.
There were also 188,702 voter registrants in the National Capital Region, while 10,549 applied via the Register Anywhere, Anytime program.
Garcia reminded all applicants that their application for voter registration does not automatically mean that they are already registered voters.
“There is still an Election Registration Board (ERB) to go through. We are confident that majority will become successful registrants. If there will be those rejected, it will only be a handful,” he said.
The ERB refers to the body constituted to either approve or disapprove applications for voter registration.
Garcia said they are now looking at reviving the online registration system or e-registration for future voter registration activities.
“We already had an online registration before, so we will just intensify the e-register… It is almost certain that we will implement the e-register in the future,” he said.
Under the system, applicants will be able to file their applications online but will still have to visit local Comelec offices to take their oath and submit their biometrics data.
