Comelec reminds new voters to list up

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is reminding the public, especially those that have yet to register as voters for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, to start heading to election offices tomorrow for the start of the 10-day registration period.

Comelec-7 election officer IV Ferdinand Gujilde said they have been reminding the people early on so the public can set their schedule early and not to wait until the last day of the registration period.

Election offices will be open as well for the next Saturday and Sunday between July 22 and 31, said Gujilde.

Gujilde earlier said that the Comelec has suspended the validation of registration records, through Comelec resolution 9741, which started last July 1 to give way for the the barangay elections on October 28.

Gujilde said they were a bit disappointed that the validation was halted momentarily since there were a lot of election officers that have already communicated with barangays whom consequently have scheduled dates for them to head to election offices.

But Gujilde said that it was still a good thing since they needed to give way for the barangay elections. Validation of records and voters’ biometrics has been made mandatory for the automated election in 2016 where voters who fail to have their biometrics completely recorded in the Comelec’s system would not be able to vote.

Based on Comelec resolution 9741, validation would be resumed “until further ordered to resume by the Commission En Banc.”

Comelec Cebu election officers will be meeting again to review all the necessary information needed for the barangay and SK elections. — (FREEMAN)