843,000 voters register: Comelec

FILE: A total of 843,588 applications for registration and reactivation, and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) applications were received by Comelec offices nationwide, Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said in a statement. (Tony Magdaraog / Shutterstock)

MANILA — More than 840,000 eligible voters registered on Nov. 6-30, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported on Tuesday.

A total of 843,588 applications for registration and reactivation, and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) applications were received by Comelec offices nationwide, Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said in a statement.

Of the total number, 455,927 persons aged 18 and above filed applications for registration while 249,925 youths aged 15-17 enlisted to participate in the youth polls next year.

“In total, 843,588 citizens attended to their right of suffrage. Their applications are now being heard by all the Election Registration Boards, which are tasked with evaluating these applications for the purpose of either approving or disapproving them, preparatory to the scheduled May 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections,” he said.

During the same period, 57,008 applications for reactivation of voting status were filed; 18,470 applications for reactivation with correction of entries; and 62,179 applications for change of name/correction of entries.

Also, 57 applications for inclusion in the Book of Voters were received, while 22 names were submitted for reinstatement in the list of voters.

“Well, it wasn’t a ‘target’ per se, more of an expectation based on the number of people who, statistically, would have been eligible to register,” Jimenez said when asked if he would say that the outcome of last month’s voter registration was not bad as they did not meet its target of 850,000 new voters.

“In any case, the outcome is close enough to confidently say that people who wanted to register were able to do so. This speaks to the accessibility of the process as well as the effectiveness of the information campaign,” he furthered.

Earlier, the poll body said they targeted 500,000 for regular voters and 350,000 youth voters during the registration period. (PNA)