The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday, July 29, reminded the public, especially first-time registrants, that the resumption of voters’ registration nationwide will commence on Friday, Aug. 1.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the 10-day election-related activities will be held not only in local Comelec offices but also in selected public and private establishments in a bid to accommodate more Filipinos.
“The voter registration will be held from Aug. 1 to 10. All Offices of Elections Officer are ready to accept applications for new voters, among others,” he said.
He said that aside from voters’ registration, the poll body will also accept applications for change of name and status, correction of entries, reactivation of registration records, inclusion of registration records and reinstatement of name in the list of voters, updating of records of persons with disabilities (PWD), senior citizens, and members of Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Cultural Communities, and transfer from overseas to local.
Online applications will also be accepted for reactivation, reactivation with change/correction, and reactivation with updating of records.
At the same time, Garcia said they are looking to hold registration at night, or the Register Anytime Program.
“For the Registration Anytime Program, the registration time will be from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. We are planning to put up registration booths in airports,” he said.
On the other hand, the Register Anywhere Program will be held in malls, bus terminals, and other crowded places.
“The registration period for Register Anywhere Program is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” Garcia said.
However, the applications for the said programs will only be accepted until Aug. 7.
“We need to forward their applications to the city/municipality where they intend to vote on election day,” Garcia said.
The 10-day voters’ registration will be conducted in connection with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
The Comelec chief said that in case the Dec. 1 BSKE is suspended, they would continue the voters’ registration activities beyond Aug. 10, or until July 2026.
The measure seeking to suspend the BSKE is awaiting the signature of President Fernando R. Marcos Jr.
If enacted into law, the holding of BSKE will be pushed to the first Monday of November 2026.*PNA