AT least two million deactivated voters may apply to reactivate their registration records during the five-month registration period from Nov. 7, 2016 to April 29, 2017 so they can participate in the coming future elections, the Commission on Elections said.
Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said there are around two million voters whose records have been deactivated. Under Republic Act 8189, also known as the Voters Registration Act of 1996, failure to vote in two consecutive national elections will result in the deactivation of a voter’s registration.
“If you did not vote in 2013 and in the May 2016 elections, you will not be able to vote in the October 23, 2017 Barangay and SK elections, and subsequent elections, unless you reactivate. We have a longer registration period, we are also open even on Saturdays and holidays to accommodate as many registrants as possible,” Jimenez added.
The Commission is expecting three million voters to register for the barangay elections, and two million voters for the SK elections.
Around 1,632,000 voters registered during the initial round of the voter registration from July 15 to 30, 2016.
Jimenez also reminded the public to bring their valid IDs as most of the problems encountered by the Election Officers involved registrants using IDs without their picture or address. Valid IDs include government-issued IDs, corporate IDs, current school IDs, senior citizens ID, and NBI Clearance.
The Comelec resumed the regisration of voters after President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law a measure postponing the village and youth council elections from Oct. 31, 2016 to Oct. 23 next year.
The Comelec also announced the resumption of registration for overseas Filipino voters from Dec.1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2018 in connection with the May 13, 2019 national elections.
Comelec Resolution No. 10166 promulgated on Oct. 25, 2016 sets the registration period for the 2017 village and SK elections from Nov. 7, 2016 to April 29, 2017, including Saturdays and holidays except on Dec. 24 and 25, 2016 and April 13 and 14, 2017.