Voter registration suspended in areas affected by volcanic eruption

MANILA, Philippines — Voter registration is suspended in localities affected by the eruption of  Taal Volcano, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Friday.

In a press conference, Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said voter registration for the 2022 national and local elections will be suspended in parts of  Batangas which are  within and beyond the 14-kilometer danger zone.

The affected areas in the danger zone are Agoncillo, Alitagtag, Balete, Laurel, Lemery, Mataasnakahoy, Sta. Teresita, Taal, Talisay  and San Nicolas.

Jimenez said voter registration is likewise suspended in Balayan, Calaca, Calatagan, Cuenca, Lian, Lipa City, Mabini, San Luis, Tanauan, and Tuy,

“For outside of the danger zone, we are still suspending [the voter registration] because of the after effects of the volcanic eruption particularly looking at ashfall, roads (that are) impassable and power coming out and so on,” Jimenez told reporters at Comelec Session Hall.

Jimenez added that voter registration will also be suspended in Tagaytay City, Amadeo, Alfonso, Indang and Silang in Cavite.

Jimenez said the resumption of registration in areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption will depend on the areas’ ability to “recover and return to normalcy.”

But Jimenez said affected voters may choose to register in areas that are not affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.

Jimenez also said the poll body will suspend voter registration in Makilala in North Cotabato, Mindanao as some facilities there were ravaged by the 6.9 earthquake in Mindanao.

“We will also be suspending resumption of registration in Region 12 in Makilala, Cotabato damaged by the earthquake because the facilities have been damaged at this point by the earthquake,” said Jimenez.

Voter registration nationwide is scheduled to resume on January 20, 2020.

GSG