Voter registration听鈥榣ikely鈥櫶齮o be extended听鈥斕鼵omelec听听
THE VOTER registration period will听鈥渓ikely鈥澨齜e extended beyond the Sept. 30 deadline, Commission听on Elections听(Comelec)听Spokesperson James B. Jimenez听said a day after Congress approved a bill setting an extension of 30 days upon enactment into law.听听听
Another poll official, however, confirmed to a senator on Tuesday that听the commission will听definitely听pass a resolution to extend voter鈥檚 registration until Oct. 31.听听
鈥淎fter consultation with Comelec officials, and in consideration of the public clamor, it is likely that an extension of the period of voter registration will be granted,鈥澨齅r. Jimenez said in a Viber message to reporters on Tuesday.听听
Mr. Jimenez听reiterated a statement on Monday that听the Comelec听en听banc听will meet on Wednesday to听make the final decision.听听
Meanwhile,听Senator听Maria Imelda Josefa听鈥淚mee鈥澨齊. Marcos, chair of the听committee on electoral reforms and people鈥檚 participation,听said Comelec Director听Teopisto听E. Elnas, Jr. confirmed听to her in a phone conversation that听鈥淐ommissioners听en听banc听will pass a resolution tomorrow extending the registration to Oct. 31.鈥澨听听
The Comelec听en听banc听has previously denied a petition filed by several groups for an extension.听听听
In a news briefing on Friday, Mr. Jimenez said the commission was already open to extending the period for voter registration听despite its impact on听the听preparation听timeline for the national听and local听elections next year.听听
He said the Comelec听is听鈥済oing the extra mile to find a way to solve difficulties for the good of the people.鈥澨听
In a post on social media last month, Mr. Jimenez听said听the Philippines already has 61.06 million registered voters as of Aug. 24, which is more than the commission鈥檚 expectation of 59 million.听听听
This听total, however, is still low considering that there are 73.3 million qualified voters听based on data from the听Philippine Statistics Authority,听Ms. Marcos听pointed out听in a Senate听hearing on the bills on Sept. 22.听听听
There听have been听long lines at Comelec offices听and satellite sites听for voter registration in听various听parts of the听country听since last week.听鈥斕鼴ianca Angelica D.听A帽ago听and听Alyssa Nicole O. Tan听
