Comelec sets up registration centers

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections has set up registration centers in schools, barangay halls and other public facilities to urge voters to register for next year’s elections.

For next year’s election, the Comelec is targeting some 50 million voters, as compared to some 45 million in 2007.

Comelec Commissioner Armando Velasco said the poll body has issued a resolution setting up satellite registration to comply with the requirements of Republic Act 8189, the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996.

“Under the law, registration cannot be done anywhere else but in the office of the Election Officers,” he said.

“But what the Comelec did was that it issued a resolution authorizing satellite registration.”

Without the resolution, the Comelec would have violated the law, he added.

Velasco said he has observed that many qualified voters are not keen on exercising their right to vote.

“Maybe they are just so busy, or they are not interested. Maybe some have doubts in our elections. But we hope that they’ll register and vote in 2010 because that is their right.”

The Comelec has been conducting continuing registration of voters since Feb. 12. Registration will end Oct. 30.

For overseas absentee voters, the deadline is Aug. 30.  – Sheila Crisostomo, Philippine Star