There was a long line of Bacolod residents at SM City on Monday, August 30, trying to register to vote as the Commission on Elections resumed operations after some of its personnel were hit with COVID-19.
Comelec Bacolod stopped operations starting August 16 after three of its personnel tested positive for COVID-19.
A Bacolod resident waiting in line with her two daughters said Monday was the third time they tried to register to vote and the third time they were sent away.
They were standing in line since 8:15 a.m. only to be told at 9 a.m. to go home as only 400 persons could be accommodated for the day, she said. People lining up, some of whom were there earlier than them, stayed until 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. hoping against hope that they could register, she added.
She said they were told to register online for an appointment but it says all time slots are full until September 30, “it is so frustrating”.
The Bacolod resident said she wishes the Comelec would hire more people to process registrants.
Some waiting in line said they were hoping to register Monday because it was a holiday and they had no work.
Bacolod Elections Officer Kathrina Trinio Caña said they only had the capacity to accommodate 400 registrants at the SM City satellite registration site Monday plus the senior citizens and persons with disabilities waiting in the priority lane.
Bacolod COMELEC will be holding a special voters registration at the University of Saint La Salle on Tuesday, August 31, and at the Metro Bacolod District Jail in Barangay Handumanan on September 4.
Satellite registration will be at Robinsons Place Bacolod on September 10-11, Ayala Malls Capitol Central – September 17-18, and SM City Bacolod – September 25.
There will be no registration of voters at the Bacood Comelec office on those days.
Registration of voters at the Comelec Bacolod office will resume Wednesday, September 1. Registration from Monday to Friday will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Caña said.
The last day for voter’s registration is September 30.*