Good voter registration turnout in week 1 – Comelec

MANILA, Philippines – The voter registration turnout in the first week remains generally high despite calls for the postponement of the 2020 barangay and Sanggunian Kabataan (SK) elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Wednesday.

“Marami pa ring nagparehistro. In fact, on the first day kung saan pangkaraniwan ineexpect natin hindi masyadong marami e ang pila medyo umiikot-ikot sa mga kalye. So maraming nagpaparehistro pa rin, at least dito sa NCR,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez told reporters in a post-election forum.

Voter registration started August 1 and will run until September 30.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona), President Rodrigo Duterte called for the postponement of the barangay elections from 2020 to 2022.

READ: Duterte calls on Congress: Postpone barangay polls from 2020 to 2022

READ: Comelec: Voter registration period set Aug. 1 to Sept. 30

Senator Franklin Drilon, meanwhile, wants the barangay elections moved from 2020 to 2021 to allow incumbent barangay and SK officials to complete their term of three years, as stated under the Local Government Code.

It is also in line with the request of Comelec that the barangay polls be held at least one year before or after the May 2022 national and local elections.

READ: Drilon proposes postponement of barangay, SK polls to May 2021

In October 2017, the President signed into law Republic Act 10952 postponing the Oct. 23, 2017 barangay and SK elections until the second Monday of May 2018.

It also scheduled the next synchronized barangay and SK elections on the second Monday of May 2020 and every three years thereafter.

Relative to this, the Comelec on July 18, 2019, promulgated Resolution No. 10549 or the rules and regulations on the resumption of the system of continuing registration of voters for the 2020 barangay and SK elections. /gsg