Registrants who skipped biometrics should come back today - Comelec

MANILA, Philippines - Voter registrants who skipped the biometrics procedure when their areas were hit by typhoon “Santi” on Saturday must complete registration today, the Commission on Elections said.

Comelec chairman Jose Melo said the registration period will not be extended so as not to jeopardize preparations for the automated elections in 2010.

Melo said the Comelec allowed registrants to come back to complete their biometrics registration today since Comelec offices were disabled by the widespread power interruption on Saturday.

Although Santi was not as strong as expected by the weather bureau, it brought heavy rains and strong winds in some areas of Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog, destroying several power lines, on the deadline of the registration period.

Because of this, Melo directed election personnel to list down the names of registrants who already filled up registration forms on Saturday.

The poll chief admitted receiving reports from across the country that last minute registrants have formed long lines on the last few days of the registration period.

Melo said if only voters registered within the 11-month period, they would not have been inconvenienced.

The Comelec said that as of August, 2.8 new voters registered, bringing the total voting population to 47 million.