Comelec, malls team up for biometrics
Comelec Chair Andres Bautista at the Comelec office in Manila. INQUIRER PHOTO/ARNOLD ALMACEN
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is forging partnerships with the country’s biggest mall operators to help voters register their biometrics data.
Comelec Chair Andres Bautista, in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990AM Wednesday, the Comelec has forged a partnership with Ayala Malls to be host biometrics registration booths.
Earlier, the agency forged a similar agreement with Robinsons Malls. SM Malls are next.
Baustista said the partnerships would make Comelec biometrics booths available all over the country and more accessible to voters.
The Comelec chair noted that over four million qualified voters for the 2016 elections still had no biometric data.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: Comelec to 4.3M voters with no biometrics data: Do it now
Article continues after this advertisementHe admitted that even he still did not have his biometric data.
Biometrics refers to the automated identification of an individual, which includes his picture, fingerprint and signature.
Qualified voters in the 2016 elections are required to have their biometrics data to avoid being “deactivated,” he said.
According to Republic Act 10367, or the Mandatory Biometrics Registration Act, passed in 2013, voters are mandated to register or validate their biometrics or be barred from voting in 2016.
“Ito ay isang proseso para malinis ang ating voters’list. Sa mga halalang nakalipas, maraming patay ang nakaboto,” (This process aims to clean our voter’s list. In past elections, even the dead managed to vote) he said.
Also, many were able to assume the identities of others, he added.
He said biometrics would help ensure that people voted only once.
The Comelec chair urged qualified voters to take advantage of the satellite registration booths. A valid identification card is the only requirement for the biometrics, he said.
READ: Comelec reiterates appeal to public to have biometrics taken
The registration period for the 2016 elections is until October 31.
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