Comelec to hold new voter registration if SK polls postponed

MANILA, Philippines - If the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls will be postponed, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will have another round of voter’s registration.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said a postponement would give a chance to those who failed to sign up for the barangay and SK elections last July 15 to 30 to register.

“The Comelec is neutral on the issue, we are ready if it pushes through, if not then we will have more time for the preparations,” Bautista said.

Section 8 of the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 provides for the system of continuing registration of voters.  

The law states the personal filing of application of registration of voters shall be conducted daily in the office of the Election Officer during regular office hours.

No registration shall, however, be conducted during the period 120 days before a regular election and 90 days before a special election.

Some 85 million voters have signed up for the barangay polls, 30 million of them for the SK election.

A bill filed in Congress seeks to move the elections to the fourth Monday of October 2017.