Comelec suspends voters' validation to prepare for barangay polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the suspension of the validation of registration records to give way for the preparations for the barangay elections in October.

The Comelec on Wednesday promulgated Resolution No. 9741, which orders the suspension of the voters' validation effective July 12 “until further ordered to resume by the Commission En Banc.”

The order said there is a need to suspend the conduct of validation "in order to maximize the workforce" of poll offices nationwide for the preparatory activities of the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in October 28.

The process of voters’ validation involves the capture and submission of biometrics data (digital photo, fingerprints and signature) of voters with or without incomplete biometrics in the registration record.

The poll body had set the start of voters’ validation on July 1 pursuant to Republic Act No. 10367 or the “Act Providing for Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration.”

But while the voters' validation has been suspended, the  voters' registration wil still push through on Jul 22 to 31, according to the Comelec.