Comelec: Not all registrants are allowed to vote

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Commissions on Elections (Comelec) clarified that not all registrants who rushed to their nearest malls and LGU’s establishments are eligible to vote in the coming May 2016 polls.

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez, explained that the filing of an application form of registration (AFR) does not automatically make one as a registered voter.

The application still need to undergo a tedious process before the names can be included in the official list of voters.

“Many have (filed) and they think they are already registered voters. But, technically speaking, they are not because they have to pass through the evaluation of the Election Registration Board (ERB). Only after the ERB has heard and approved their voter applications can they say that they are valid voters,” said Jimenez to the reporters.

Jimenez said that each city and municipality has its own ERB composed of the election officer, a public school official, and the local civil registrar.

The ERB allows anyone to contest the validity of a voter’s application.

“If there is no petition filed against the AFRs, then chances are the application will be immediately approved by the board,” Jimenez added.

The ERB could reject an application for registration based on the questions of residency and citizenship of the applicant. The question of validity of AFRs can be filed in different ERBs until Jan. 29, 2016.

Jimenez also added that to be able to vote in the upcoming elections, the applicant must have also gone through the Automated Fingerprints Identification System (AFIS) aside from secured ERB approval. The System allows the Comelec to cross-match the biometrics of voters’ registrations to avoid and eliminate double and multiple registrants.

All the ERBs all over the country have until Feb. 4, 2016 to conduct hearings and screen the list of voters.

The Comelec is set to give the list of certified voters on Feb. 9, 2016.