Comelec spokesman says he won’t be able to vote

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez admitted Wednesday that he will not be able to vote in the coming May 2013 elections because his registration has been deactivated after not being able to vote twice.

“When I checked [my registration status] it was only then that I found out I was deactivated. All this time I thought I was still active,” Jimenez told reporters.

He said that he was not able to vote in the 2010 national elections and in the last barangay (village) elections which caused his registration status to be deactivated.

“It’s a common mistake that a lot of people make which paves the way for them to go to the polling precints come election day but not be able to vote,” he said.

The registration status of a voter and the precinct where he or she is registered can be checked online at the Comelec’s website https://www.comelec.gov.ph/.

When asked whether he applied for the local absentee voting, he said he was not able to because he was too busy organizing the overseas absentee voting.

“This is a good reminder to myself and to everyone that we should be responsible in taking care of our voter records,” Jimenez said.

“Let me be a lesson to all of you,” he said.