MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is calling on the public to help it remove the names of those already deceased from the list of voters.
“If you know anyone who has passed away [and] you would like also to help us clean up our list, then please provide us the information about the passing of that relative so that we can start the process of removing them from the list of voters,” Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said in a press conference.
“Iyan ang dahilan din kung bakit sometimes on election day, ‘pag chineck ‘yong listahan, nando’n pa ‘yong lolo, ate, kuya, na pumanaw naman na,” he said.
Jimenez issued the appeal as the new round of voter registration resumed on Thursday for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections next year.
READ: Voter registration begins Aug. 1
Jimenez further explained that it would be burdensome for Comelec to monitor the passing of every voter as it only relies on information given by the civil registry offices.
“Wala naman paraan ang Comelec na mag-monitor except through the civil registry and again we have logistical problems with that, what if hindi siya namatay do’n sa lugar kung san siya rehistrado, so it’s difficult,” he said.
“Kung meron kayong kamag-anak na pumanaw na, please try to coordinate with the offices of the Comelec para matanggal din sila from the listing. Kailangan din natin makakita ng proof ng pagpanaw ng inyong kamag-anak or whoever, we just need proof na hindi na sila living para masimulan na ‘yong proseso ng pagki-clean up no’ng ating listahan,” Jimenez added. /muf