Comelec exec cannot vote in May polls

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez did not vote in 2010 and he cannot vote in the May 13 midterm elections after his voter’s registration was deactivated.

Jimenez admitted yesterday he “made a mistake” when he assumed his records had been kept intact even after failing to vote in the 2010 presidential elections.

“It was a mistake not checking my registration,” said Jimenez, whose job entails informing the public on election processes and encouraging Filipinos to exercise their right to vote.

Jimenez, who is an active Twitter user, broke the news on his social media account, saying he did not check his registration record and that he failed to reactivate it.

“No one was obligated to inform me... My bad, my loss,” Jimenez said.

He said this would serve as a lesson for voters to always check their voting status.

He explained that his mistake was due to his role in the agency, which renders the election period the busiest of the year.