Fewer people registering for 2016 polls – Comelec

MANILA, Philippines - There could be a slowdown in registration for the 2016 elections as fewer people are turning up in offices of election registrars, a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official said yesterday.

Spokesman James Jimenez said the decline in the number of registrants could affect the Comelec’s target of nine million registered voters with biometrics.

“This is the time when historically only few are turning up to register and this could last until March next year,” he said.

Jimenez said the Comelec hopes more voters would be able to undergo biometrics validation so they could vote in 2016.

“It is for the biometrics validation that we are really waiting for the numbers, we are looking for ways to improve the current phase,” he said.

Jimenez said they expect a rise in number of registrants in March.

“At the start of summer, many people are going back to their hometown and they register there,” he said.

Of the estimated nine million voters without biometrics, six million have yet to submit themselves for biometrics validation, according to data from the Comelec.

Biometrics data refer to the automated identification of an individual, particularly his or her photograph, fingerprint and signature.

The Comelec has set the continuing registration until Oct. 31, 2015.