The Commission on Elections (Comelec) conducted a special voter registration event for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Manila City Jail on Monday, in preparation for the next Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia made a personal visit to the satellite voter registration site, where 137 women and 186 men signed up for the initial group of registrants.
The exercise gave the inmates, who were still awaiting the resolution of their cases, a chance to vote for the first time in barangay elections, Garcia said.
“The Supreme Court decision on August 26, 2022, which states that unless convicted by final judgment, all PDLs have their constitutional right to vote. Unless you are convicted, your right to vote is recognized,” Garcia said.
For those who applied for the voter registrations, the concerned PDLs must be residents as much as possible of the area where they will vote to participate in a special voting process for their sector, the poll chief said.
Comelec also said the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) noted an 88% voter turnout among PDLs during the recent elections held on May 12.
“This means they have a high interest in the elections despite their detainment. They also want a better life and society for their families even if they have yet to be free,” he added.
The poll body initiated a 10-day nationwide voter registration period for the 2025 BSKE on Friday, August 1. This registration is scheduled to continue until August 10.
