ARMM voter's list-up to resume Oct. 12-31

MANILA, Philippines - The continuing registration of voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is set to resume on Oct. 12 to 31, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

But in Resolution 8672, the Comelec said Muslim titles like datu, sultan, hadji and bai would not be allowed in the “accomplished forms of applicants.”

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said Filipino residents in the ARMM provinces of Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Shariff Kabunsuan, Maguindanao (except Cotabato City), Lanao del Sur and Basilan (except Isabela City) could register as voters in the region.

The poll body resumed the continuing registration of voters for the 2010 elections in other parts of the country, except for the ARMM, last Feb. 12. This ends on Oct. 31.

Jimenez said the schedule for the ARMM is different because a regional election was held there in August 2008.

There are a total of 1.6 million registered voters in the ARMM and 85,000 more are expected to register next month.

Under the election law, registrants should be at least 18 years old on or before May 10, 2010 and a resident of the Philippines for at least one year and in the place where he or she intends to vote, for at least six months immediately preceding the May 10, 2010 elections.

Applications for registration, transfer of registration records, change/correction of entries in the registration records, reactivation of registration records and inclusion of registration records/reinstatement of name in the list of voters, shall be personally filed beginning Oct. 12 to Oct. 31 at the office of the election officer of the city or municipality where the applicant resides, from Monday to Friday, including Saturdays and holidays falling on weekdays during regular office hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Comelec said.

The Comelec added that applicants are required to present any valid ID such as employee’s ID, postal ID, student’s ID or library card, senior citizen’s ID, driver’s license, NBI/PNP clearance, among others, when they register.

Community tax certificates – or cedula – or certifications/identification cards issued by barangay officials would not be honored as identification documents.