Comelec says turnout for voter's registration 'impressive'

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday that the ongoing voter’s registration in Metro Manila had already yielded a total of 15,358 registrants.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the poll body is “pleased with the impressive initial registration turn-out.”

“The influx of registrants at this early juncture shows the people’s renewed faith in the electoral system. This is a telling sign that the Filipino people, most especially the youth, are raring to go to the polls and this is certainly good news for the country’s democracy,” he said.

Jimenez said the figure includes first-time voters and those who have applied for reactivation, transfer and correction of entries in their registration records.

He said Manila accounted for the highest number of registrants with 2,659; followed by Quezon City with 1,885; Muntinlupa with 1,347; Las Piñas with 1,321 and Caloocan City with 1,129.

The registration period runs from Dec. 2, 2008 to Dec. 15, 2009.  The Comelec is expecting three million new registrants to be added to the present pool of 48 million registered voters.

Jimenez said those who have questions about the registration process may visit the Comelec’s official website, www.comelec.gov.ph, and the Comelec’s Education and Information Division’s blog site, http://bagongbotante.ph. – Sheila Crisostomo