WITH voter registration numbers coming in low, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday warned the public against procrastinating and reliance to the possibility of the January 31 deadline being extended.
In a statement, Elections chairman George Garcia said eligible individuals should not delay their applications to become registered voters as the poll body is not keen on extending the voter registration period.
“An extension of the ongoing voter registration is unlikely to happen as this has not been discussed in any of the Commission’s deliberations,” said Garcia.
“Don’t bank on rumors that the Comelec will extend it. What if we don’t extend the voter registration period?” he added.
Failure to register on time, he stressed, will strip the public from being able to choose their community and youth leaders come the next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
“If you aren’t able to register, you will lose the chance to choose your next barangay leaders. If you are a registered voter, you’ll get the chance to elect your preferred candidates,” said the poll chief.
“We are encouraging more applicants to register earlier than the deadline,” added Garcia.
On Tuesday, the Comelec reported that 188,129 have applied to become first time voters during the period of December 12 to 30.
This is a far cry from the Commission’s target of two million new voters by the end of the registration period on January 31, 2023.
Aside from applying to become registered voters, the Comelec is also accepting other transactions, such as updating and correction of record entries, reactivation, and transfer of registration.
