Namfrel lauds Comelec for voter registration push

Election watchdog, National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) has lauded the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for pushing through with the two-month voter registration period amid plans to postpone the May 2020 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (Comelec). (File Photo By Elmer B. Domingo – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA — Election watchdog, National Citizen’s Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) has lauded the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for pushing through with the two-month voter registration period amid plans to postpone the May 2020 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (Comelec).

“Namfrel commends the Comelec for pushing through with the continuing registration of voters and for actively promoting citizens’ participation in the electoral process,” the group said on Wednesday in a statement.

The citizens’ arm of the Comelec in past polls urged the young Filipinos to register to be able to participate in the country’s electoral exercises.

“Namfrel urges the public, especially the youth, to heed the calls to register or to have their registration records updated or transferred before the deadline,” it said.

“As of today, the Barangay and SK Elections are still scheduled to take place on May 11, 2020: ensure that your registration records are in order to avoid disenfranchisement,” the Namfrel added.

On Friday, the Comelec reported that it has received a total of 100,399 applications in the first week of nationwide voter registration in connection with the BSKE next year.

The voter registration period started on August 1 and will run until September 30, 2019.

All Offices of Election Officers in city/municipality, where the registrant resides, are ready to accept applications.

These are open from Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.

m. to 5 p.m.

Senator Bong Go has proposed to defer the May 2020 BSKE to May 2022 while Senator Imee Marcos would like to move it to May 2023.