The Commission on Elections might extend the voter registration deadline by a month to October 30 after the Senate adopted a resolution seeking its adjustment, Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said.
“The Senate Resolution requesting for an extension up to October 30 has not been discussed yet, but the commission will deliberate on Wednesday whether to extend or not, because it might affect the Comelec’s budget,” she said.
The deadline for voter registration is only until September 30, 2021.
The senators filed Resolution No. 851 seeking the extension of the registration period to Oct. 31.
“Now, it is different. The Senate adopted a resolution. For sure, Chairman Abas will put it on the agenda for discussion,” Guanzon said.
“In the meeting, the directors will determine if the Comelec could still extend the registration period,” she added.
Guanzon said the majority of the directors earlier opposed extension proposals “because it will have a domino effect.”
The House of Representatives has also adopted a resolution urging Comelec to extend the deadline for voter registration in the country and abroad to prevent voter disenfranchisement amid the pandemic.
“Comelec could not have anticipated the adverse impact of the pandemic on voter registration and must make the necessary adjustments to allow more unregistered potential voters to register,” read House Resolution 2231.
The resolution noted the five-and-a-half-month suspension of voter registration across the country, as well as the weeks-long suspensions in areas under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ (MECQ).