Local poll execs in Julian-hit areas can extend voter registration – Comelec

An elderly woman is assisted as she undergoes biometric procedure at a voters’ registration facility in Binondo, Manila on January 26, 2023. (File photo from INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)

MANILA, Philippines —  The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has given its regional offices in Northern Luzon the authority to extend the deadline for voter registration in areas affected by typhoon Julian (international name: Krathon).

Comelec chairman George Garcia said the registration is supposed to end on Monday (September 30), but based on the state weather bureau’s latest update, Julian continues to intensify, affecting Northern Luzon.

READ: Comelec reminds public: Voter registration ends on September 30

“Ngayong araw ang katapusan ang registration of voters. Bagama’t sinabi namin na ‘di kami mag-e-extend ng registration, kasalukuyang binabagyo ang mga kababayan natin sa Northern Luzon,” the Comelec chair said in a briefing on Monday.

(Today is the end of voter registration. Although we said we would not extend, our fellow Filipinos in Northern Luzon are currently battered by the typhoon.)

“Kaya binigyan namin ng authority ang aming regional offices doon. Nasa kanilang discretion kung ‘di ipagpapatuloy ngayong araw na ito ang registration of voters upang ito ay ma-i-reset sa ibang araw,” Garcia announced.

(We have given the authority to our regional offices there. They have the discretion to decide whether the registration will be suspended today so that it can be reset on another day.)

“Kung kakailanganin, halimbawa bukas. Kaya nga lamang, makakasabay ito sa filing ng Certificates of Candidacy (COC),” he noted.

(For example, tomorrow. However, it will be simultaneous with filing the Certificates of Candidacy.)

Earlier, Comelec informed the eligible voters that they can register at the office of the election officer or satellite registration office in their area from Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Applicants have to bring one of the following:

PhilSys National ID card

Postal ID card

PWD ID card

Student ID or library card signed by school authorities

Senior citizen’s ID

LTO driver’s license or student permit

NBI clearance

Philippine passport

SSS/GSIS ID or any UMID card

Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) license

Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID

Certificate of Confirmation from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) for ICCs or IPs members

Barangay ID or certification with photo

Other valid government-issued IDs