Comelec urges public to register for 2016 polls

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday stressed its campaign to register in the last two weeks of nationwide voter’s registration and said that there are no cancellations of registration on Monday despite Typhoon “Lando.”

Comelec Chairman Juan Andres “Andy Bautista” urged over two million voters with no biometrics to have their biometrics taken or validated in the last two weeks nationwide registration.

“13 days na lang, magsasara na ang voter registration at validation,” Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez announced in his Twitter account.

"Simula October 17 to 31 'yung aming huling hirit o campaign in order to entice voters to register or validate their biometric. Comelec offices as well as satellite registration centers all over the country will be open for 12 hours in the next two weeks because we are really bending backward to try and entice our voters to register because we really believe that having a good voter turnout will strengthen our democracy," Bautista said.

Asked by a netizen if the Comelec will extend voter registration since “Lando” is expected to linger in the country within the next three days, Jimenez said it has not been discussed yet as there are no en banc sessions on weekends. However he said there are no cancelations to date.

“We’re not cancelling anything so far. If people can brave the weather, Comelec is still here,” Jimenez said in his Twitter account.

To reach more people, the poll body set up registration centers in strategic areas such as town plazas, schools, covered courts, gymnasiums, among others, aside from 100 malls.

"In fact, nakatutuwa kasi na maliban sa malls, I think there are over 100 malls who are participating, meron din tayo mga coliseum, gymnasiums, basketball courts, plazas, so kumbaga ibat-ibang lugar na malapit sa ating mga botante para nga mas madali sa kanila na magpa-register," Bautista said.

Paano mo iboboto kandidato mo kung di ka rehistradong botante? #NoBioNoBoto #HulingHirit meng! pic.twitter.com/cONAYaRErJ

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) October 17, 2015

Based on Republic Act No. 10367 otherwise known as Mandatory Biometrics Registration Act of 2013, voters who were not able to have their biometrics taken before May 2016 elections shall be deactivated from the voters’ list and shall not be allowed to vote.