The Provincial Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is expecting that the extension of voter registration will help in lessening the crowding of people on the last day of registration for the 2022 national and local elections.
“Ganun ang inaasahan po natin na sana ay sa simula pa lang [ng] exetension, magpuntahan na ang mga magparehistro at iwasan na mag-ipon na naman sila sa last day [ng registration],” said Provincial COMELEC Spokesperson Jomel Ordas in an interview via message.
Ordas predicts that, “…tingin [natin ay] bababa ang turnout natin at tataas lang muli kapag papalapit na ang deadline sa Oct. 30.”
The COMELEC En Banc approved on September 29, 2021, extending the voter registration until October 30.
“Extension will be from October 11 to 30. It will run from Monday to Friday except [for] Saturdays. Except further that the 30th, which is the last day and is also a Saturday, will be open for registration… In all cases, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM,” stated COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez in a press conference on September 29, 2021.
Jimenez clarified that the extension given applies to all registrants like transfer of registration, reactivation, and overseas registration. “…I know that prior to this announcement, there is a lot of talk about limiting the scope of the extension to new registrants only, that is not so. We will open all registration services, okay? So, that’s registration for new voters, transfer of registration, [and] all services. ”
According to Memorandum No. 210933, the COMELEC will accept Voter Certification requests but only release them every Friday. In addition, barangay satellite registrations will not be available.
A new local registrant, on an interview with Palawan Daily, agree on the extension of the voter registration deadline as they should consider limited slots accommodated every day by offices and the constant change of quarantine classifications.
“Tama lang na in-extend nila yung deadline kasi nga pandemic. Grabe yung pila nakakapanlumo para lang makaboto ka next year. They should be considerate na naglo-lockdown ang ibang lugar tapos limited lang [numbers ng] mga kine-cater nila,” said the newly electorate.
The Provincial COMELEC said that the queue in satellite registrations has been manageable, but they are still only able to accommodate a certain number of people.
“Yes po, kaya lang ang ma-accomodate talaga ay within the capacity lang [ng] mga OEO (Office of teh Election Officer) natin. Normal capacity ay 200 per voter registration machine (VRM). Bale sa mga munisipyo isa lang ang vrm samantalang dalawa naman sa city,” explained Ordas.
On September 30, the Provincial COMELEC records an all time high of 38,851 since the start of voter registration.
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