An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is skeptical that the target number of voters for the 2022 election may not be reached due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before the pandemic, the target number of voters was 65 million, but it has been reduced to 62 to 63 million.
Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo doubts that the number will be reached before the voter registration deadline on September 30.
“We are trying to catch up with our target, which I don’t know if we can still get,” said Casquejo.
“Medyo mahirapan tayo because we have to limit also the number of registrants per day,” he added.
At the last election registration hearing on April 19, the total number of registered voters stood at 58.9 million.
Of the 4 million to 5 million target new voters, just over 3 million have registered, according to the May 11 record.
This Monday, voter registration in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces resumed after being suspended for almost 2 months due to tightened quarantine restrictions due to the surge of COVID-19 cases.
Target number of voters might not be met: Comelec
Applicants can register at the Comelec offices from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Registration is also available at satellite registration sites every Saturday, both times.
To bring the process closer to more voters, you can download the voter registration application form on the Comelec website or fill it online at irehistro.comelec.gov.ph.
He said the Comelec would also issue an application form to rent them even without internet.
Meanwhile, the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) called for voter registration to be done at major satellite sites due to the threat of COVID-19.
This, they said, would be beneficial, especially for vulnerable sectors.
“Masikip ang mga election offices natin, Comelec field offices, and we’ve been calling on Comelec since last year na sana gumamit sila ng mas malalaking venue katulad ng mga covered court o mga conference halls para sa registration,” said Lente Executive Director Ona Caritos.
Lente is also waiting for the Comelec to issue guidelines for voter registration of detainees or persons deprived of liberty.
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