Voter registration useful despite possible barangay, SK polls postponement—Comelec

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said that the registration of those who qualified as voters for the October 2017 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls will not be put to waste even if the measure will be postponed anew. (Photo: COMELEC/Facebook)

MANILA—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said that the registration of those who qualified as voters for the October 2017 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls will not be put to waste even if the measure will be postponed anew.

According to Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez, once the application for registration of a qualified voter has been approved, he/she will be able to vote in the succeeding polls, as the voter registration nationwide being conducted at present is not only for the scheduled village and youth polls.

“New voter registrants’ efforts will not go to waste even if the October 23, 2017 elections is postponed because once they register as a voter, they will be able to vote in succeeding regular and special elections wherein they are qualified,” he said in a statement.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that he is amenable to postpone anew the October 23 Barangay and SK elections.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers filed House Bill 5359 seeking to postpone the village and youth elections to May 2020 while allowing the President to appoint officials.

On the other hand, the poll body office has reminded the public that there will be no extension for the voter registration procedure which will end on April 29.

Jimenez urged qualified voters to visit the Comelec Offices particularly the Office of the Election Officer (OEC) in their respective cities or municipalities to be able to register.

He added that they may also file their application for registration at satellite registration activities in their areas.

The poll body has resumed its nationwide voter registration after taking a two-day break in observance of the Holy Week.

Earlier, the Comelec reported that it received a total of 2,174,601 applications for registration from November 7, 2016 to March 25, 2017.

The OEOs are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays.