File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — The early low turnout in the “register anywhere” special voter registration has the Commission on Elections (Comelec) worried that its experimental registration system lacked enough promotion.
Only 611 voter applicants availed of the Comelec’s register anywhere services in eight shopping malls in Metro Manila and three cities outside the capital region on Dec. 17 and 18.
“We still have to intensify the information drive. But to be fair, it’s orderly and expeditious,” Comelec Chair George Garcia told reporters.
He urged voter applicants to register through the Register Anywhere Program (RAP), which he said was more convenient.
The Comelec launched the pilot test on Dec. 17. Eight malls were chosen as RAP pilot test sites, where new voters and previously delisted voters can sign up with Comelec regardless of where they want to vote.