BATANES — Following the disruptions caused by Typhoon Julian, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has delegated the decision to hold a special voter registration day in affected areas to local electoral officers, after the scheduled last day of registration was suspended due to severe weather.
According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia explained that the guidelines permit local authorities to determine the resumption of voter registration. This could potentially include a special registration day after the certificate of candidacy (COC) filing period ends on October 8. Garcia emphasized the priority of safety for both the public and Comelec personnel, supporting the flexibility afforded to local offices in making these decisions.
The adverse weather affected the northern Luzon region, particularly Batanes, with gusty winds and heavy rainfall, leading to the suspension of voter registration activities originally planned for Monday. Garcia expressed satisfaction with the overall progress of the nationwide voter registration that commenced on February 12, despite some setbacks such as the deactivation of approximately 5.37 million voters. The projected number of active voters is now adjusted to 68 million, down from an expected 70 million.
Furthermore, the next round of voter registration is anticipated to occur in July or August of the following year, ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). Garcia has instructed all local offices to ensure that all individuals in line by the 5 p.m. deadline on the final day are accommodated.
Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco added that the current tally of voter registrants stands at 6.9 million, including about 3 million new voters. He noted that these numbers are expected to rise as additional applications are processed, including those submitted up to the disrupted final day.