‘High number of new voters should discourage postponement of 2010 polls’

MANILA, Philippines - The high turnout of voters registration should be enough to discourage those who are pushing for the postponement of the 2010 presidential elections, a ranking poll official said Wednesday. If anything, the results of the registration is a “pressure” to conduct the elections as scheduled, said Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Rene Sarmiento. “If they are reading the signs of the times and sensitive, I think this is a pressure to push through with elections in 2010,” Sarmiento told reporters. Henrietta de Villa, chairperson of the National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), said the registration could become a reflection of the "people's will." "This is our purpose why we are giving (the registration) public exposure. So that our congressmen will know what the people want," De Villa noted. The Comelec last Tuesday started the conduct of the voters registration in preparation for 2010 polls. The registration will end on Dec. 15, 2009. In the registration, Comelec uses data capturing machines to record the biometrics data of voters like their thumbmarks, photographs and signature. The Comelec is expecting some three million new voters for 2010 polls. So far, there are around 48 million registered voters. "It's a very good sign if we will come out with three million registrants. Hopefully, they will set off a tide of change in electoral process and the quality of elections in 2010," De Villa added. - GMANews.TV