Low turnout mars last day of voters’ registration nationwide

According to Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez, initial data from their regional offices reported that fewer applicants went to the Offices of the Election Officer (OEOs) on April 29, the last day of the voter registration. (Photo: Philippine News Agency)

MANILA –The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said a low turnout of registrants during the last day of the nationwide voter registration for the October Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on Saturday.

According to Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez, initial data from their regional offices reported that fewer applicants went to the Offices of the Election Officer (OEOs) on April 29, the last day of the voter registration.

“Reports still incomplete but it looks like a majority of cities and regions nationwide are reporting low to middling turn out of registrants today,” he said.

The poll body official added, “This is shaping up to be the most uneventful end of registration in recent memory.”

With this, Jimenez cited three possible reasons on the low number of registrants during the last day of the registration period.

These are: effective satellite registration campaign by Comelec; potential postponement of the village and youth polls and the two consecutive registration periods (due to postponement of 2016 barangay election).

Poll body data showed that as of April 15, they have received over 2 million new registrants.

“We already had 2.2 million new registrants. We expect around 2.5 million,” he added.

The nationwide voter registration started last November 7, 2017.