Go out and register: Comelec opening Saturday voter registration by Feb. 20

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

 MANILA, Philippines — Voter registration on Saturdays will begin on February 20, according to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon. 

In a video message posted on Twitter, Guanzon said those who are not available to register during weekdays will now have an option to do so on weekends. 

“Starting February 20, from 8:00 [a.m.] to 5:00 [p.m.] ang voter registration. May Sabado na, Tuesday to Saturday, 8:00 to 5:00, starting Feb. 20,” she said. 

(Starting February 20, the voter registration will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will now be Saturday registration. The schedule will be from Tuesday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting February 20.)

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon. File photo

“So wala na kayong excuses dyan mga bata, ‘yung magiging 18 years old sa May 9, 2022 or before May 9, magregister na kayo please. Kaya ginawa itong Saturday registration, para talaga sa inyo,” she added.

(So you will not have any excuses anymore. To those teenagers who will turn 18 before May 9, 2022, please register to vote. The reason why we included Saturday in the schedule is really for your sake.)

Guanzon said Mondays are reserved for disinfection of Comelec offices.

Previously, voter registration was only conducted from Monday to Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Comelec earlier said it is eyeing to extend hours and days for voter registration to accommodate more voter applications.

The Comelec has so far recorded over a million new voter applications for the 2022 elections, though still short of the 4 million new voters being eyed by the election body.

With the figures still lagging behind the target, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez earlier urged the eligible applicants to register for the voting process. 

“Please do not waste this opportunity to become part of the process of governance in this country because remember, when you vote on election day, you are actually helping define the policies that will govern you for the next three, six years of your life in this country. So please register and vote,” he said.

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