4.7 million Filipino voters still have no biometrics data

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MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that some 4.7 million voters in the country still have no biometrics data.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said that these voters would not be able to participate in the 2016 national and local elections if they failed to have their biometrics taken.

“4.7 million pa ang walang biometrics, down from 9.3 million last May. Di sila makakaboto kung di sila #magpaBIOMETRICS. #NoBioNoBoto,” he said in his Twitter account, @jabjimenez.

Biometric refers to the automated identification of an individual, particularly his/her photograph, fingerprint and signature.

Under Republic Act 10347, or the Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration Act of 2013, registered voters with no biometrics would be deactivated from the succeeding polls and therefore, be disenfranchised.

It would be recalled that the nationwide registration started last May 6, 2014 and will run until October 31, 2015.

It was temporarily suspended from December 21, 2014 to Jan. 4, 2015 in observance of the Holiday Season. It has resumed on Jan. 5, 2015.

The public may apply for registration in the Offices of Election Officers (OEOs) in their areas. The local Comelec offices are open Sunday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Aside from registration, there are other types of transactions being offered these are: validation of their biometrics data; transfer of their registration to another city or municipality; reactivation of their registration and correcting entries in their records.