THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday announced the resumption of voter registration activities nationwide on December 9, which will run for two months or until January 2023.
In a statement, Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said potential voters can sign up until January 31, 2023.
Comelec chairman George Garcia has earlier said the Comelec is planning to hold a six-month voter registration program prior to the October 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), or until the last week of May 2023.
Under the law, voter registration activities are only prohibited 120 days before a regular election and 90 days before a special election.
Asked why the voter registration period was shortened to only two months, Laudiangco said an extension is not being ruled out.
“Please note that the Commission (has the) inherent power to extend the period for registration beyond January 31, 2023,” said Laudiangco.
The resumption of local voter registration will actually coincide with the start of the overseas voter registration period.
“(It will be) Simultaneous resumption of the system of continuing voter registration for local and overseas on 9 December 2022,” said Laudiangco.
Overseas voter registration for the May 2025 polls will run until September 30, 2024, as per Comelec Resolution No. 10833.
Meanwhile, Laudiangco said the initial period for local voter registration was set as part of the pilot testing of the Register Anywhere Project (RAP) in Metro Manila.
He said the pause will help pave the way for the conduct of a comprehensive post-assessment the initial implementation of the project.
“The Commission ultimately intends to implement the RAP nationwide based on the lessons learned and challenges faced in the NCR (National Capital Region) pilot testing,” explained Laudiangco.
He said the poll body has approved the pilot testing of the RAP in five selected NCR malls every Saturday and Sunday from December 10, 2022 until January 29, 2023 (except December 24, 25, and 31, 2022, and January 1, 2023).
Under the project, applicants may proceed to the RAP booths of selected NCR malls to submit their required documents, have their oaths administered, and their biometrics data captured, even if they are residing in another city or municipality.
