But now, new registration of voters will take place in provinces and cities where the Aug. 14, 2001 plebiscite for the expanded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be held.
The plebiscite for the expansion of ARMM will be held in the provinces of Basilan, Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Palawan, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and the newly created province of Zamboanga Sibugay.
The cities of Cotabato, Dapitan, Dipolog, General Santos, Iligan, Kidapawan, Marawi, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Digos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Isabela and Zamboanga will also participate in the plebiscite.
However, these 15 municipalities and 14 cities may accept application for registration even if those whose registration will be approved cannot vote in the plebiscite because of the provision in Republic Act 8189. They however can vote in the scheduled Nov. 26, 2001 ARMM elections. A plebiscite is considered a special election.
The continuing registration was suspended since Dec. 27 last year pursuant to Section 8 of RA 8189 which says "no registration shall ... be conducted during the period starting 120 days before a regular election and 90 days before a special election."
Akbayan Youth and Kompil Youth had petitioned to the Supreme Court to allow more than four million youth and new voters to register in a special list-up to be held by Comelec to enable them to vote in the May 14 polls. But the high court ruled that special registration was illegal.
The youth groups blamed the poor information campaign of the poll body for failure of many to register during the continuing registration that began in 1998 and ended on Dec. 27 last year.
The House of Representatives and the Senate were also called to a special session by President Arroyo to pass an amendatory law allowing the special registration last April, but Comelec Chairman Alfredo Benipayo admitted to the Senate that it was not "do-able."
A senior official of the poll body said Benipayo may have succumbed to the pressure from opposition senators who had warned him of rough sailing in the powerful Commission on Appointments when his nomination is submitted if he agreed to the special registration.