Comelec set to send notices to QC voters without biometrics

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Quezon City is sending individual written notices through registered mail to the city’s registered voters who have no biometrics data or with incomplete biometrics.

According to Rosalinda Albia-Radin, QC-Comelec Acting Election Officer IV, they are sending the notices as a way to notify, remind and encourage the QC voters to undertake validation process at the soonest possible time by completing their data or biometrics.

Radin said that each of the six districts of QC-Comelec has posted the list of voters who have no biometrics yet in their respective offices for the information of voters who need to undergo validation.

She explained that biometrics is the capturing of voter’s photo, signature and finger prints through the computer facility provided in the Comelec’s registration area.

She stressed it is very important that voters’ biometrics be taken so that they can vote for the May 2016 national polls and other future elections.

“It is important so that they will not lose their right to vote,” she said.

She also said that the same biometrics will be used as a reference for double-checking or comparing the personal data of voters with similar faces and ages, but have different addresses and names although the finger prints are the same, or vice versa.

“Those who will be found to have multiple registrations will be limited to one registration,” she added, stressing that it will be a good safety net to avoid any future election fraud through “flying voters” as the system shuns them.

However, Radin clarified that not all voters who have multiple registrations are flying voters as there are cases that a multiple registration happens when the voter transferred residency and registered in the place where he/she currently resides.

She describes biometric as a cleansing system that will ensure the conduct of an honest and clean election.

Meanwhile, Radin said they are also assessing the requests from the 142 barangays of QC to have a satellite registration office/s to give the local voters more registration opportunity.

Initially, the 2nd District Comelec-QC started its satellite registration in Barangay Commonwealth this Sunday (May 25) until May 30, 2014, or for a period of six days, to allow the big number of voters in the area to avail themselves of early registration or validation of voters through biometrics.

To date, aside from accepting validation of voters through biometrics, they are also accepting applications and requests for new registration, transfer of registration, reactivation for deactivated voters, and change of status (single to married, or any other reason).

The registration process begins last May 6 and will end on Oct. 31, 2015.

In QC-Comelec, the registration is conducted from Sunday to Friday only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There is no registration for Saturday as this is allotted for the rest day of the Comelec personnel.

Since the start of the continuing registration period, more than 100 people troop daily to each of QC-Comelec’s six districts to register or complete their biometrics registration.

New registrants are required to bring at least two valid and original identification cards and marriage certificate for those who will apply for change status.

The valid IDs are employee ID with signature of the employer, Postal ID, student ID or library card, Senior Citizen’s ID, Driver’s license, Passport, SSS/GSIS ID, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID, and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance.p>In the absence of these documents, the applicant may be identified under oath by any registered voter of the precinct where he/she intends to be registered or by any of his/her relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.

The steps for registration/validation include: verification, which involves presentation of IDs and release of application form which will be filled up by the registrant; recording of precinct assignment and interview; data encoding and taking of biometrics; thumb printing; and finally, issuance of acknowledgment receipt.