Comelec mulls extended registration for new voters

Officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) may extend to Jan. 12 next year the period of registration of new voters after the deadline lapsed last Wednesday.

Chairman Jose Concepcion Jr., chairman of the poll watchdog group National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) had written Comelec Chairwoman Harriet Demetriou to ask for the extension.

Concepcion told reporters yesterday the extension of the registration period for 11 working days will not hamper the Comelec’s schedule for hearing and processing applications.

"The Election Registration Board can still meet on the third Monday of January, which is on the 15th, to start the hearing and processing of registration applications," he said.

"Furthermore, moving the registration to Jan. 12 will still fall within the purview of R.A. 8199 that states ‘no registration shall, however, be conducted during the period starting one hundred twenty (120) days before a regular election.’"

Concepcion said Namfrel chapters have reported long lines in front of various Comelec offices to accommodate the registration of new voters.

"We expect 4.8 million new voters in the coming elections and we suppose that it is also Comelec’s primary interest to enfrancise the new voters," he said.

"We, therefore, are seeking Comelec’s favorable response to our request for extension of the deadline for filing applications for registration of voters for the May 14, 2001 elections from Dec. 27, 2000 to Jan. 12, 2001."

Concepcion said last Dec. 22 and 24, Namfrel put out advertisements in two major newspapers calling for qualified voters to register before last Wednesday’s deadline.

In his letter to Demetriou, Concepcion said he expressed their concerns over a delay in the approval of Namfrel’s application to be the Comelec’s citizen’s arm in the elections next May.

Concepcion said Namfrel asked for accreditation last Oct. 25, and that after hearing the matter, Demetriou and the majority of commissioners signed an en banc resolution.

However, Commissioner Luz Tancangco continues to hold the resolution up to the present, he added.– Sandy Araneta