House panel seeks listup extension until Oct. 31

Calls for an extension of the deadline for the registration of voters for the 2022 general elections mounted with congressmen urging the national poll body to reconsider its Sept. 30 cutoff in two separate resolutions.

The House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms adopted House Resolution No. 2128 and House Resolution No. 2139, which sought to push back the last day of voter registration to Oct. 31 to avoid voter disenfranchisement.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) previously rejected calls for an extension, saying it would affect preparations for the May 9, 2022, polls.

However, according to the resolution, the monthslong suspensions of voter registration due to lockdowns imposed since last year amid the coronavirus pandemic afford the Comelec the “prerogative” to move the deadline to a later date.

“Comelec could not have anticipated the adverse impact of the pandemic on voter registration and must make the necessary adjustments to allow more unregistered potential voters to register,” HR 2139 read.

“While it is also important for [the] Comelec to have enough time to prepare the final list of voters, which is a prerequisite for the preparation and completion of the Project of Precincts (POP), a one-month extension will not unduly hamper or delay Comelec’s preparation of the POP,” it added.

Eric Alvia, secretary general of the National Movement for Free Elections, expressed support for a “selective extension” of the voter registration deadline in areas under enhanced community quarantine and modified enhanced community quarantine.

“It would be ideal if we would extend the voter registration,” Alvia said, but conceded that it would be difficult. “On Oct. 1 to Oct. 8, the Comelec will start receiving the certificates of candidacy (COC) of those who wish to run for the 2022 elections. If you will extend voter registration, where will you hold the voter registration if the Comelec office will be used to receive COC and certificates of nomination and acceptance?” he said.

“We are on a tight schedule right now but I think the reality is we really have to try to fit all the activities within around 30 days left,” Alvia said.

Last week, National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) also made calls for a deadline extension on voter registration.

NUSP president Jandeil Roperos said the Philippine Statistics Authority projected the number of eligible voters for 2022 at 73.3 million. According to the Comelec, registered voters so far total around 61 million.

That leaves around 12.1 million eligible voters in danger of disenfranchisement, Roperos said.