THREE weeks into the voter registration period, almost one million Filipinos have applied to become registered voters for the May 2025 national and local polls.
The latest data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed 910,918 have applied to become registered voters from February 12 to March 4.
This is nearly one-third of the Comelec’s projection that about three million would apply to become registered voters during the seven-month voter registration period that will end on September 30, 2024.
Having the most number of applicants is Calabarzon with 165,702; followed by the National Capital Region with 140,638.
Completing the top five are Central Luzon with 98,976; Central Visayas with 70,972; and Davao Region with 55,315.
Having the lowest number of registrants are the Cordillera Administrative Region with 10,346; Mimaropa with 22,069; and Caraga with 24,331.
Last week, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said they were surprised over the positive response of the public to the voter registration activity.
Garcia said the numbers are “extraordinary” as applicants don’t usually flock during the first days of the voter registration period.
Looking to replicate its actions in the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Comelec said it plans to enforce anew the ban on premature campaigning for the May 2025 midterm polls.
Garcia said they will prohibit early campaigning activities by candidates who have already filed their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) to run in the next national and local elections.
“We don’t want the Comelec to be left inutile after the filing of COCs but will only be considered candidates in February for national and March for local candidates. It is simply unacceptable,” said Garcia.
“We apologize but the Comelec will do its constitutional duty to enforce and administer election laws, which is acknowledged by the Constitution and the Supreme Court. When they file their COCs in October, they should all be considered as candidates already,” he added.
Garcia said they intend to implement the premature campaigning ban despite the provisions of the Poll Automation Law and the ruling of the Supreme Court in the Peñera vs Comelec case.
Under the Poll Automation Law, “any person who files his certificate of candidacy shall only be considered as a candidate at the start of the campaign period” and “unlawful acts applicable to a candidate shall be in effect only upon the start of the campaign period.”
This provision was affirmed by the 2009 Supreme Court case Peñera vs. Comelec, which paved the way for the removal of premature campaigning as an election offense.
“The Commission will proceed as is with our plan. In case we are prevented by the Supreme Court if someone files a petition questioning our action, we will respect that. But what is important is the Comelec is taking action,” said Garcia.
In previous national and local polls, the Comelec has been rendered powerless in the face of premature campaigning as an election offense.
This resulted in the unregulated presence of campaign posters and tarpaulins as well as political advertisements airing on different media platforms.