1.5 million new voters eyed as registration resumes

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections is eyeing up to 1.5 million new voters as the voter registration resumed yesterday, a Comelec official said.

Comelec spokesman Rex Laudiangco said the voter registration would be conducted daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Sundays and holidays, in election offices nationwide.

The poll body wants to finish early the voter registration in preparation for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections scheduled in October 2023, according to Laudiangco.

“We are hoping to have one million to 1.5 million new voters until Jan. 31,” he said in an interview on Teleradyo.

There will be no voter registration on Dec. 24 and 31.

The Comelec has partnered with five malls in Metro Manila for the opening of satellite offices in their establishments.

Meanwhile, the Comelec has allowed inmates to vote during a plebiscite for the cityhood of Baliwag in Bulacan.

The voting hours at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Pagala, Baliwag will be held on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Comelec said 108,572 registered voters in 27 barangays in Baliwag are expected to participate in the political exercise.