High turnout logged on 1st day of voter registration

MANILA, Philippines — A high turnout was observed nationwide on the first day of the resumption of voter registration yesterday in preparation for the holding of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, according to the Commission on Elections.

Comelec acting spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said the barangay and SK elections would be conducted on Dec. 5.

Laudiangco said that while the Comelec has yet to receive reports from its field offices, initial information showed the first day of the registration went smoothly.

“Based on initial assessment coming from the Comelec field offices, the first day of the resumption of the voter registration was peaceful and orderly, with a relatively high turnout of applicants in all regions,” Laudiangco said.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, initial information coming from the National Capital Region, the Cordilleras, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Bicol, Western Visayas, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao showed voter lines were orderly in the offices of the city and municipal election officers.

A majority were new applicants aged 15 to 17 years for the SK, the report said.

In other areas, people started to line up before the registration started.

The voter registration will run until July 23 including weekends and holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Comelec said.

All field offices of the Comelec are required to submit daily reports not later than 7 p.m.

All regions should submit their reports to the Comelec’s election and barangay affairs department.