Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Spokesperson Atty. Migs Nograles on Friday joined the calls for the extension of the deadline for voter registration for the 2022 national and local elections.
“While we acknowledge that the lockdowns imposed were necessary to curb the spread of COVID-19, these have unfortunately resulted in a fewer number of days for voters to register or reactivate their status,” Nograles said.
“The shorter registration period may cause massive voter disenfranchisement, hence our call to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to extend voter registration by at least a month.”
“The shorter registration period may cause massive voter disenfranchisement, hence our call to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to extend voter registration by at least a month, to compensate for the days voter registration was suspended because of the lockdowns,” she added.
The Davaoeña lawyer said more than 10 million voters could be disenfranchised if voter registration is not extended, citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, which showed the projected voting population for next year’s elections at 73.3 million.
“Our Constitutional right to suffrage is the ultimate expression of our democracy. No one should be deprived of the right to vote,” she stressed.
Nograles also rejected the one-week extension being offered by the poll body saying, it isn’t enough time to accommodate all prospective voters.
“We are already hearing stories of people enduring long lines in registration centers.”
“We are already hearing stories of people enduring long lines in registration centers. And given the daily 300 cap in satellite registration sites also, the one-week extension being proposed by COMELEC Commissioner Marlon Casquejo is clearly not enough,” she said.
The COMELEC had suspended voter registration several times due to lockdowns implemented in Metro Manila and other parts of the country due to COVID-19.
However, citing timeline constraints and health issues, the COMELEC en banc previously rejected calls from lawmakers and non-government groups to extend the voter registration period beyond the September 30 deadline. The poll body had instead approved extending voter registration hours.
“We understand the concern of the COMELEC that if the voter registration deadline is moved, this woul mean corresponding delays in prepatory activities, including the finalization of the list of voters. However, this could still be remedied whereas voter disenfranchisement cannot and this is unacceptable,” Nograles said.
Nograles also added she “welcomes and supports the proposed legislation of House leaders to move the deadline for voter registration.”
Top officials of the House of Representatives recently filed House Bill No. 10261, which seeks to extend voter registration by a month, moving the deadline to October 31, 2021.
“We urge President Rodrigo Duterte to certify this bill as urgent given that the September 30 deadline is looming,” Nograles said.
“We urge President Rodrigo Duterte to certify this bill as urgent given that the September 30 deadline is looming.”
The latest figures from COMELEC peg the total eligible voters for the May 2022 elections at around 62.47 million, including more than five million first-time and previously delisted voters.
