BILANG PILIPINO | Delisted voters can reactivate online, voter registration extension still unsure

August 13, 2021 , 03:19 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(August 13, 2021) – More than six million people who were unable to vote in the past two elections can reactivate their status online, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Friday, facilitating a faster process to help voters amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said they will open the process to all delisted voters to make it easier for them to cast their votes in the 2022 elections. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) comprise the majority of delisted voters, noted Jimenez.

“Dahil nga pandemya, medyo nahihirapan silang mag-reactivate so we’ve recently authorized the use of an online procedure for reactivation,” said Jimenez. “Hindi na nila kailangang magpunta kung nandun din lang naman ‘yung kanilang biometrics sa aming record. Sabi ng batas, kailangang may biometrics ka sa sistema.”

Delisted voters need to turn in their registration form through the e-mail of the Office of the Election Inspector without needing to show up in Comelec offices. Seniors and PWDs must also fill out supplementary forms to indicate their special needs for the 2022 elections, according to Jimenez.

But if the delisted voters do not have existing biometrics records, they still need to personally appear at the Comelec office in their locality to reactivate.

“Ang online reactivation is made possible by the fact na meron ka pang biometrics sa sistema. ‘Yun talaga ‘yung show-stopper natin. Kung wala kang biometrics sa database natin ngayon, you have to get the biometrics there which is only possible if you’re appearing in person,” explained Jimenez.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros called the initiative “a welcome development” in light of the dangers brought by the Delta variant of COVID-19. She also urged Comelec to “cleanse” the voter’s list in the run-up to the 2022 elections.

Comelec, meanwhile, has yet to if voter registration will still be extended beyond the imposed deadline on September 30. Jimenez promised that they will release the rule on the matter soon.

Seven senators, including Hontiveros, already filed a resolution on Thursday seeking to extend voter registration to October 31 “to prevent voter disenfranchisement” due to the health crisis and the two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Youth groups also pressed Comelec to take action regarding the concerns, stressing that “no one (should be) left behind” in the process of electing the country’s new leaders.

More than 4.6 million new voters have registered, based on the latest data, breaching the target of 4 million earlier set by Comelec.

“Nais ko ring muling manawagan sa COMELEC na i-extend ang voter’s registration kahit man lang sa mga lugar na under ECQ. Lahat ng Pilipinong nasa hustong gulang ay dapat mabigyan ng pagkakataong makibahagi sa proseso ng ating eleksyon,” said Hontiveros.

(PM | With reports from Jen Calimon, News 5)

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