Low voter registration turnout of 40,000 in Eastern Visayas linked to pandemic

TACLOBAN CITY—Only 40,000 individuals in Eastern Visayas have so far registered as voters for elections in 2022.

Lawyer Felicisimo Embalsado, assistant regional director of the Commission on Elections in Eastern Visayas, said the low number of registrants could be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the May 2016 elections, the Eastern Visayas Comelec office reported that at least 2.2 million out of 2.6 million voters turned up to cast ballots for national and local races.

Embalsado said the Comelec was still encouraging people qualified to vote to register for the May 9, 2022 national elections.

But he said people going to registration offices should heed all health protocols like wearing face masks and shields and keeping safe distances from one another.

Comelec offices are open from Monday to Thursday. Friday is allotted for disinfection of the facilities.

The registration period will end on Sept. 30, 2021.

According to Comelec regional records, 40,025 individuals had registered to vote in 2022.

TSB