Comelec to resume voter registration on Monday

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to resume voter registration on Monday after the Supreme Court ordered the extension of voters’ list-up until January 9, 2010, the poll body’s spokesperson said Wednesday. But Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez stressed that the poll body will accept applications for registration for five days only—from December 21 to 23 and from December 28 to 29. Comelec Commissioner Jose Melo explained that the resumption of voters’ registration will run for five days only since the poll body will be on break during holidays and weekends. “Binilang namin, last day is Jan. 9, ang working days Dec. 21 to 23. Tapos niyan, sa 28 at 29, limang araw lahat for December. Tapos, holidays na yan. Ang first working day natin next year is Jan. 4," Melo said in a radio interview. (We counted, last day is Jan. 9. Our working days are from Dec. 21 to 23, then 28 to 29, five days all in all for December. Then it will be the holidays. Our first working day next year is Jan. 4.) As for the remaining week from January 4 up to the January 9 deadline, Jimenez explained that the poll body will use these working days for the “administrative aspects" of the registration. “Registration is not only on the filing (of their applications)… There are also administrative aspects to this like completing the Book of Voters, posting notices of the Election Registration Board (ERB) and subsequent hearings," he said.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Melo, a former SC justice, also went to the high tribunal on Wednesday to explain how the recent decision to extend voters’ registration would affect the poll body’s preparations for the 2010 automated polls. [See: Voters can still register until January 9, 2010 - high court] The Comelec commissioner earlier admitted that the high court’s decision had placed the poll body in a difficult situation, since approving and finalizing the list of voters would take a lot of time. The poll body nevertheless encouraged voters who failed to make it to the earlier October 31 deadline to grab the opportunity to register during the extended list-up period. [See: Comelec, PPCRV urge voters to grab 2nd chance for registration] The SC on Tuesday extended to January 9 the voter registration for the 2010 elections after it nullified a Comelec resolution that limited the registration period only up to October 31 this year. – Andreo C. Calonzo, GMANews.TV