Comelec allows ‘hakot system’ during registration

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) prohibits the herding of registrants to its local offices during election season, but for the resumption of the voter’s registration next week, the poll body will condone this “hakot system.”

“Mobilizing registrants is ok, we are not prohibiting it.  But what we are against is the hakot system on Election Day. That is not allowed,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said over the weekend.

During the last few days of voter’s registration for the barangay elections last year, many Comelec local offices had a deluge of registrants. But the Comelec found out that most registrants were herded by those gunning to run in the barangay elections.

Jimenez said what is important now for the Comelec is that all qualified voters will be able to register and vote in the May 2016 elections.