The Commission on Elections (Comelec) insisted that they could no longer extend voter registration beyond September 30 even though the crowds of people lined up at dawn.
“As what we have said, en banc already ruled twice not to extend,” said Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo.
However, the Comelec is said to be open to open registration for another week after the filing of the certificate of candidacy from October 1 to 8.
“Our proposal is to give one-week extension after the filing of the COC,” he said.
The official added that they would follow if the proposals in the Senate and House to extend the registration until October 31 are passed.
“We are also aware of the pending bills… mandating Comelec to extend registration until Oct. 31. If that bill will be passed as a law, we will comply,” said Casquejo.
Earlier, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said that many activities would be covered if voter registration was completed.
Comelec explains complication in extending voter registration
“Ang problema po kasi natin dito ay mayroon tayong schedule of activites at ang schedule of activities na ‘yan ay nakadepende sa pagtatapos ng voter registration on Sept. 30. ‘Yan ang magiging basehan para sa pagdetermina kung ilang balota ang iimprenta natin, kung gaano kalalaki ang mga presinto at kung ilang presinto,” said Jimenez.
(The problem we have here is that we have a schedule of activities and that schedule of activities depends on the end of voter registration on Sept. 30. So that will be the basis for determining how many ballots we will print, how many precincts, and how many precincts.)
So far, 62 million have registered to vote. But according to some groups, more than 70 million are eligible to register based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Meanwhile, the government expects that by Election 2022, all voters in the country will be vaccinated against COVID-19.
This is important because it will dictate how the Commission of Elections conducts the 2022 national elections, according to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.
“I think the COMELEC will just wait and see what the situation is. By that time sa 2022, sa May elections, I think we have covered everybody for vaccination, all voters, by that time, fully vaccinated na sila,” he said.
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