The doors of the Commission on Elections will remain open for those who are yet to register for Halalan 2022.
The voter registration for the 2022 Philippine elections was scheduled to end on September 30. However many people ask for an extension due to the lockdowns that impeded their registration plans. Many lawmakers and other stakeholders also voiced out their worry that millions of qualified voters will not be given a chance to participate to in the 2022 elections.
Finally, last Friday, September 24, the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms approved a bill to extend the current period for voter registration to October 31, 2021, despite the appeals from Commissioner Aimee Ferolino of Commission on Elections (Comelec) to just extend the registration for only one week after the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC). Today, it was confirmed that the extension of registration until the end of October will push through.
JUST IN: Senate unanimously approves bill extending voter registration for another month or until Oct. 31, despite Comelec’s refusal to move the Sept. 30 deadline | @eimorpsantos pic.twitter.com/xicEafP5Pn
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) September 27, 2021
To put things in to context, the reason why Ferolino wanted to extend the registration for only a week was because a longer extensions would affect or delay the COMELEC’s election preparations, like the printing of ballots and the finalization of the project of precincts. She also made a point that there were already six COMELEC staff infected by COVID-19 in the recent months.
She told the committee last Friday’s hearing that they are already stretching their limits. “We see the lines, we see the people lining up trying to register. But if we extend beyond the one week, your honor, we might put at risk those who were already registered.”
If you encounter problems or have questions on registration, you can contact the COMELEC on their given platforms below:
The #2022NLE is less than a year away! Got questions? Talk to us. Here are the Voter Care Center hotlines: pic.twitter.com/CFyZllGoxB
— COMELEC (@COMELEC) May 24, 2021
Related:
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Still Unsure About Registering To Vote? Here’s How To Get It Right!
