The Commission on Elections reported it received more than two million applications for registration for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Dec. 5.
Comelec acting spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said as of July 20, the number of applicants that have submitted their registration forms is at 2,119,878.
“At first, our only expectation based on historical records was that we would only reach approximately one million new registrants. We have gone beyond that and now we have also passed the two million mark of registering new voters,” he said.
Laudiangco added of the new number of registrants, 1,326,415 are aged 15 to 17; 680,597 are aged 18 to 30; while those 31 years and above are at 112,966.
He added an extension of the voter registration is unlikely as their schedules for poll preparations are tight.
He added they are also following two laws – Republic Act 11462 which sets the election on Dec. 5, and RA 8189 or the System of Continuing Registration, as far as the ongoing preparations are concerned.
“The law says that 120 days before an election it is not allowed to conduct a registration. It also prohibits building a new precinct and we are also not allowed to move existing precinct. So for now, given the two laws it is impossible to have an extension,” Laudiangco said.
He added they are ready in case a law postponing the polls will be passed as proposed by some sectors.
“In the event that the amended bills ultimately become law or become a Republic Act, the Comelec will abide by the order of Congress. But until there is no Republic Act, we will continue to follow and comply with RA 11462 to implement the election on December 5, 2022,” he added. – PNA
