Comelec reiterates appeal to public to have biometrics taken

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has reiterated its appeal to the public to have their biometrics taken to prevent massive disenfranchisement during the 2016 presidential polls.

Comelec Chair Andres Bautista said that around 4.3 million voters stood to lose their eligibility to cast their votes in the next year’s election because they had no biometric data in their voter registration record.

He particularly enlisted the help of the public in spreading the word on the poll body’s stepped-up “No Bio No Boto” campaign.

“People should get involved,” said Bautista in a statement. “We need the help of everyone.”

He urged citizens to help the poll body by acting as volunteer voter educators in their communities.

“By simply informing your neighbors about the need to validate, citizens can contribute a lot in preventing massive disenfranchisement in 2016,” he added.

Biometrics data refers to the automated identification of an individual, particularly his/her photograph, fingerprint, and signature.

These are captured by the Comelec’s Voter Registration Machine (VRM), which is simply a desktop computer equipped with a digital camera, fingerprint scanner and signature pad.

The Mandatory Biometrics Registration Act of 2013 provides that voters who fail to submit their registration for validation prior to the May 2016 elections shall be deactivated from the voters’ list and shall not be allowed to vote.

Voter registration for the 2016 elections will run until Oct. 31 this year.

The poll chief said local Comelec offices could provide volunteer voter educators with a list of voters without or with incomplete biometrics in their area. Volunteers need only visit the Office of the Election Officer in their area to request for a copy of the list, he said.

Bautista also urged the youth to help in the campaign by maximizing social media platforms to amplify the poll body’s call.