Comelec prepares for resumption of voter registration

The new set-up in one of the COMELEC offices in the country as the agency prepares for the resumption of voters’ registration under the “new normal.” | COMELEC photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices in the country, including here in Cebu, are now gearing to resume the registration of voters after three months of being halted due to the risks of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano said the voter registration is expected to resume this July 1, 2020, although the date is still tentative as the Comelec en Banc has yet to issue a resolution on the matter.

Since the general community quarantine (GCQ) in Cebu province started last May 20, Castillano said they have already resumed operations in their office under a skeleton force.

Castillano said they are now physically preparing their office to so they could also start to cater to their clients while still observing health protocols such as physical distancing.

“Naay mga changes sa set-up sa opisina para sa umaabot nga July 1 kay di man mahimo nga moundang ta sa atong serbisyo ug maghuwat ta nga naay vaccine. We need to adapt,” Castillano told CDN Digital.

(Changes have been introduced in our office set-up in preparation for [the resumption of voter registration on] July 1 because we cannot cease to operate and wait for the availability of a [COVID-19] vaccine.)

“Atong paninguhaon nga ang atong mga tawo makaserbisyo gihapon (We will make sure that our personnel will continue to render service) with minimum health precautions on their part,” he added.

Despite the anticipated resumption of their agency’s services, Castillano urged the public to visit their office only for urgent concerns.

Voter registration, which covers new registration, reactivation of registration, and the transfer of registration will continue until September 2021, based on Comelec Resolution no. 10635, in time for the May 9, 2022, presidential polls.

Cebu is considered as the most “vote-rich” province in the country with over 3 million registered voters during the May 2019 elections.

However, the number has been cut to about 2.2 million, including the independent cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu, after the Comelec deactivated the registration of those who failed to vote for two consecutive elections and removed the names of those listed as dead by the local civil registrar. / dcb