Continuous voters’ listing begins Tuesday

MANILA, Philippines - The continuing nationwide registration of voters in preparation for the 2010 general elections starts Tuesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday. The listing will run until Dec. 15, 2009. The continuing registration will include the capture of biometrics data. The Comelec expects around 2 million new voters to register for the May 10, 2010 polls. The registration will include those who have changed addresses. The poll body has also partnered with several groups to set up satellite registration sites, or those outside the premises of city/municipal election officers. The first satellite office will be opened also today at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. Meanwhile, Comelec is hoping that the National List of Registered Voters would be rid of double registrants, fearing the validity of reports that nearly 25 million double registrants would be able to vote in 2010. — BusinessWorld