DESPITE the low turnout of new voters on the first day of the resumption of voters’ registration which started Nov. 7, the Commission on Elections still expects more than five million new voters even as the agency urged the public to register early and avoid the rush as the deadline nears.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said they are expecting more than five million new voters, three million voters for the barangay elections and additional two million for the Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
The registration period will run from Nov. 7 until April 29, Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Dec. 24 and 25, and April 13 and 14.
“While we will have a longer registration period, we are still urging voters to register early to avoid long queues as we are expecting 5 million more registrants,” Jimenez said.
“The Commission will maximize the opportunity to register as many voters as possible in the five-month registration period. We will be receiving applications even on Saturdays and holidays. We will also be conducting mandatory satellite registrations at least twice in every barangay, nationwide,” Jimenez said.
The village and SK elections will be held on October 23, 2017.
Meanwhile, Filipinos living and working abroad will be able to register for the May 13, 2019 national elections and subsequent elections from Dec. 1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2018,” Jimenez said.
“All citizens of the Philippines, who are at abroad or will be abroad during the thirty (30) day voting period, at least eighteen years of age on the day of the elections and not otherwise disqualified by law, may register,” the Comelec said.
Based on Comelec data, 1,376,067 overseas Filipino voters registered worldwide for the May 2016 elections. 1,326,728 are land-based voters, while 49,339 are seafarers. 737,759 overseas voters registered in the 2013 midterm elections.