(FILE) Voter registration
MANILA, Philippines — The total number of registered voters in the country is now at 62 million with the registration of 5 million new voters, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Thursday.
Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas emphasized that the figure is double the usual average of 1.5 to 2 million new voters that are registered every three years.
“Pero ngayon nag-target kami because of pandemic and presidential we targeted 4 million. Awa ng Diyos, nalampasan na natin, nasa 5 million na tayo sa new registrants, so sobra-sobra na ‘yon for our target, hanggang sa pumalo nga tayo sa 62 million,” Abas said in an ABS CBN News Channel interview.
(But now we have a target of 4 million voters because of the pandemic and this is a Presidential Election. By the grace of God, we surpassed our target. We have now 5 million new registrants, exceeding our target, until we reach 62 million registered voters.)
The present number of voters has exceeded the total number of voters in the 2019 Elections at 61,843,771.
“In fairness sa mga kababayan natin, masyado silang high morale sa pagregister,” Abas noted.
(In fairness to the public, the morale is high to register.)
Previously, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez noted that the poll body already reached its target of new registrants, which is why Comelec is not inclined to extend the voter registration period. He added that more problems will only arise with the adjustment.
“You delay the end of one, and you basically delay everything else,” he said.
However, the registration hours were extended and registration sites were open even on Saturdays and holidays.
Voter registration will continue until September 30.
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