3-M voters eyed within 9 months

Around 3 million voters are expected to register during the registration period, which will start on 10 November and end on July 30 next year, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday, 5 November.

“We plan to register around three million voters,” Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said.

Garcia noted that the country has around 71 million registered voters.

However, the chairman said the registration period in Batanes and Naga City will be delayed.

Naga City will hold a plebiscite to ratify its status as a highly urbanized city, while Batanes will hold a special election for its vacant congressional seat on 21 November.

“After one week from the conduct of the elections, we will also begin the registration process for them,” Garcia said.

Lost over purpose

The Comelec chief explained that the decision to delay registration in Naga City and Batanes was meant to avoid confusing voters.

“They might think that they can vote in the special election or plebiscite after having registered,” he said.

Meanwhile, Garcia reminded the public to bring government-issued identification cards during registration.