‘Comelec must explain need for biometrics’

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) should clearly explain to the electorate that they are required to register under the biometric system, as many people are of the impression that their mere possession of a voter’s ID card will allow them to vote in the May 2016 elections.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal made the foregoing statement on Monday, as he noted that the number of voters still not registered with their biometrics remained high, at around 4 million, because many people were not aware that they were required to do so.

Biometrics refers to the automated data identification of an individual, particularly of his or her photograph, fingerprints and signature, as captured by the Comelec’s voter registration machine which is a desktop computer equipped with a digital camera, fingerprint scanner and signature pad.

“Most of the voters who are in possession of voter IDs have the impression they are already biometrically registered since they have the ID and those who voted in the last two elections also believe they are no longer required to register under the new system,” Macalintal said in a statement.

He said there was an “imperative need” for the Comelec to explain things to voters so they would be guided accordingly and not forfeit their participation in the next year’s political exercise.

“Voters should be advised that the mere possession of a voter’s ID or having voted in past elections is not a guarantee of having been biometrically registered,” said Macalintal.–Jocelyn R. Uy