NVizcaya scores record turnout of new registrants
11/05/2009 | 04:05 AM
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Close to 10,000 names have been added to the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) list of new voters in this northern Luzon province.
Comelec provincial officer Abraham Asuncion said that the most recent increase in figures were unexpected since new registrants only came in trickles during the past months despite the government’s massive information campaign.
“We did not expect the sudden turnout, I guess it’s because of the Filipino’s usual mañana habit," he said.
Asuncion however credited the youth for their interest in participating in the 2010 elections, estimating that 80-90 percent of the new names are from students of different universities in the province.
“(Youth voters) have become a potent force. I think they really want to get involved (in the election process) this time," he added.
As of October, some 7,000 names have already been cleaned from the previous list of registered voters in Nueva Vizcaya from a total of 217,000, but latest records show that the new entries will more than cover the number of deleted names.
According to the election officer, the cleansing of Comelec’s records is a regular process to remove double entries, names of voters who did not participate during the last two elections, and dead voters’ names, and also to ensure minimal or no case of flying voters.
Aside from commissioning the Philippine National Police to look out for violators of election laws, Asuncion also asked for media’s support and the community’s vigilance in going after politicians who will campaign prematurely once they have filed their Certificates of Candidacy.
“We enjoin everybody to relay information that will help us get rid of dishonest candidates," he said. - Floro Taguinod, GMANews.TV
Comelec provincial officer Abraham Asuncion said that the most recent increase in figures were unexpected since new registrants only came in trickles during the past months despite the government’s massive information campaign.
“We did not expect the sudden turnout, I guess it’s because of the Filipino’s usual mañana habit," he said.
Asuncion however credited the youth for their interest in participating in the 2010 elections, estimating that 80-90 percent of the new names are from students of different universities in the province.
“(Youth voters) have become a potent force. I think they really want to get involved (in the election process) this time," he added.
As of October, some 7,000 names have already been cleaned from the previous list of registered voters in Nueva Vizcaya from a total of 217,000, but latest records show that the new entries will more than cover the number of deleted names.
According to the election officer, the cleansing of Comelec’s records is a regular process to remove double entries, names of voters who did not participate during the last two elections, and dead voters’ names, and also to ensure minimal or no case of flying voters.
Aside from commissioning the Philippine National Police to look out for violators of election laws, Asuncion also asked for media’s support and the community’s vigilance in going after politicians who will campaign prematurely once they have filed their Certificates of Candidacy.
“We enjoin everybody to relay information that will help us get rid of dishonest candidates," he said. - Floro Taguinod, GMANews.TV
