Voters' registration for ARMM polls to start in March

The 10-day voters' registration period for the August 8 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) polls will begin next month, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said. In Comelec Resolution 9144, the poll body said that any Filipino citizen residing in Basilan (except in Isabela City), Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao (except Cotabato City) and Lanao del Sur may register beginning March 21 until March 31, 2011. The resolution was issued as Congress has yet to decide on whether to pass a measure resetting the ARMM polls to coincide with the 2013 midterm elections. The poll body added that all applications for registration, transfer of registration records, change or correction of entries in the registration records, reactivation of registration records and inclusion of registration records or reinstatement of name in the list of voters, must be personally filed during the registration period at the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) of the city or municipality where the applicants resides. Registration shall run from Monday to Saturday, inclusive of holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Comelec said that those who wish to register only need to bring the following identification documents: • current employee’s identification card (ID), with the signature of employers or authorized representative; • postal ID; • student’s ID or library card, signed by the school authority; • senior citizen’s ID; • driver’s license; • NBI/PNP clearance; • passport; • SSS/GSIS ID; • IBP ID; • PRC ID or any other valid ID. But community tax certificates (cedula) or certifications or identification cards issued by the barangay shall not be honored as valid identification documents, the poll body said. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News