SC asked to extend voters’ registration until Jan. 8, 2016

SATELLITE REGISTRANTS From serious shopping to getting serious with their voting rights, these mall-goers fill up Commission on Elections (Comelec) forms at a Taguig mall yesterday. The Comelec set up satellite registration booths in several malls yesterday to reach out to more voters as part of its preparation for the May 2016 national election. EDWIN BACASMAS

The Kabataan Partylist group on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to extend voters’ registration for the upcoming 2016 national elections.

In a 22-page petition, the group urged the high court to extend voters’ registration up to Jan. 8, 2016 and to nullify Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolutions 9853 and 9981, stating that Oct. 31, 2015 as the deadline of application of registration of voters.

Petitioners said Section 8 of the Voter’s Registration Act provides that “the personal filing of application of registration of voters shall be conducted daily in the office of the Election Officer during regular office hours. No registration shall, however, be conducted during the period starting one hundred twenty days before a regular election and ninety days before a special election.”

“Despite this provision, Comelec has illegally set the deadline of the voter’s registration on October 31, 2015, pursuant to Resolution No. 9853 and Resolution No. 9981,” petitioners led by Ridon said.

The Oct. 31 deadline, according to petitioners, is 69 days less than what is prescribed under the law.

Petitioners added that the high court, in 2009 has allowed the extension of voters’ registration.

“In 2009, the Supreme Court has already ruled that the Comelec cannot prematurely terminate the continuing registration of voters before the prohibitive period of election registration defined under the law – 120 days before the regular elections,” Ridon explained.

“With the very high volume of first-time registrants and voters in the May 9, 2016 elections, the October 31, 2015 deadline set by respondent for the filing of application of registration of voters provides is utterly insufficient to accommodate first-time youth registrants, voters without biometrics, and voters highly eager to participate in the May 9, 2016 elections,” the petitioners maintained.

“At the core of the issue is every voter’s right to suffrage. Comelec must, at all times, ensure maximum voters’ participation in elections, and not hinder the democratic right to vote by imposing illegal deadlines,” Ridon added.

Aside from Ridon, other petitioners are Sarah Jane Elago, national president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines; Vencer Crisostomo, chairperson of Anakbayan; Marjohara Tucay, national president of Kabataan Party-list; Marc Lino Abila, national president of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines; Lean Porquia, national president of the BPO Industry Employees Network; Charisse Bañez, chairperson of the League of Filipino Students; and UP student Enriko Caramat.

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