At least 61 million Filipinos are now eligible to vote in the May 2022 national elections, exceeding the 59 million target before the voter registration ends on September 30, 2021, the Commission on Elections said.
Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said 61.06 million Filipinos are now registered to vote in next year’s national and local elections.
However, the Comelec reiterated thatthere would be no extension for the voter registration which will expire on Sept. 30 despite mounting clamor from lawmakers and other civic groups.
He also reiterated that there will be no voter registration activities in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or modified enhanced community quarantine, adding that voter registration is only allowed in areas placed under general community quarantine or modified GCQ.
Earlier, Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas said more than two million additional voters have registered last year despite the pandemic, matching the usual increase during the past previous months.
“Thousands more are expected to register in the next five weeks, after Comelec offices extended registration hours in areas under general community quarantine and modified GCQ from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on weekdays and up to 5 p.m. on Saturdays,” he said.
In another development, the government is considering to tap the services of Israel to help to ensure the national elections in May 2022 are carried out safely amid the pandemic, the Israel Embassy in Manila said Wednesday.
“We had our experience in having two elections during the pandemic one in the middle of the pandemic and one in the beginning. We are willing to share the information and I think the Philippine government and authorities are interested. We’re discussing it,” Embassy Charge d’Affaires Nir Balzam told reporters in a virtual forum.
Balzam did not say how the possible partnership can be hammered out “I think there are few measures that the Philippines have to understand first before.. What’s the vaccination status, the eligible voters. There are still some things that they have to do before but we’re collaborating on that,” he said.