Voter registration begins Aug. 1

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino citizens who are at least 15 years old on May 11, 2020, and have resided in their barangays for at least six months on or before election day may now register to qualify as voters, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

“Register so you can vote in future polls — even if the 2020 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls [are] postponed,” said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez in his Facebook account.

Voter registration starts today, Aug. 1, and runs until  Sept. 30, the poll body said.

Jimenez said applications may be filed from Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the office of the election officer or any satellite registration site in the locality where the aspiring voter resides.

“The commission will open the registration process on Saturdays and even holidays to allow more applicants to be accommodated, especially students and working people who may not have time during weekdays,” Jimenez said.

All types of applications will be accepted, including registration, change or correction of entries (for misspelled names, wrong birthdates, wrong gender and so on), transfer of registration record, reactivation of registration record, inclusion of registration record and reinstatement of name in the list of voters.

There would also be satellite registrations in malls to maximize registration turnout, the poll official said.

Registered voters as of the May 13 midterm elections need not apply.

The Comelec said those who would be at least 15, but not over 30 years old on May 11, 2020 should be included in the list of those who may vote for SK candidates.