2022 ELECTIONS | Philippines on track to register 61 million voters before deadline, says Comelec

June 24, 2021 , 01:10 PM

(June 24, 2021) – With the voter registration for the 2022 elections less than 100 days away, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said the country is on track to register 61 million voters.

Comelec spokesperson Atty. James Jimenez said while they initially struggled to increase voter registration, they have already surpassed their goal of reaching four million new registrants.

“Lampas na tayo sa expectations natin. We expected around four million for the new voters, parang nasa 4.3 (million) na tayo ngayon. And as far as the current tally is concerned, we’re at 60 million voters na. So we’re on track to reach 61 (million) by end of September,” said Jimenez on One News’ The Chiefs.

Jimenez noted that the majority of the 4.3 million new voters are all of those who recently turned 18 years old, noting they are also looking into other age demographics to see where they can pull more Filipinos to register for the much-anticipated 2022 elections.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voter registration was hampered by lockdown restrictions and other health protocols, which limited the number of people allowed to go to Comelec offices.

“Normally, every elections bumabalik tayo to the previous level then ini-exceed natin. But right now with the impact of the pandemic, we were only able to return to the previous level which is 61 million (voters). We’ll see kung ma-exceed pa natin ‘yan,” said Jimenez.

Voter registration is set to end on September 30, 2021.

In a bid to improve numbers, the Comelec had extended office hours to accommodate more applicants, even opening on Saturdays.

A mobile application was also recently launched to make voter registration easier. Jimenez said they will be expanding the range to Metro Manila from an initial 500 pilot sites over great uptake. He also explained why it is only available in Comelec offices and not online.

“Ang point nung app is precisely to wean us from dependence on internet connections. Kasi kung downloadable ‘yan, ibig sabihin, kailangan mo pa rin ng internet connection, right? And we want to focus on people na walang internet connection, so kailangan mong side na transfer from phone to phone,” said Jimenez.

Jimenez also added that they’re looking into proposals for the online filing of certificates of candidacy. He, however, stated that this is not allowed by the law as of now.

“We’re looking to see how these other methods might find application in the Comelec. This is being helped along by the fact na in recent hearing at the Senate parang ‘yung legislators natin gustong-gusto rin na i-push ang online filing,” said Jimenez. “I guess if ever it comes to that and we need some amendment, I’m sure matutulungan naman kami.”

(Kiko Demigillo/PM)

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