ILOILO City – Saying voters are the “ultimate arbiters” on how local government units should be run, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged more Western Visayans of voting age to register ahead of the May 9, 2022 polls.
“Take part in democracy. Indi gid kita ka-boto kon indi makapa-rehistro,” Director Dennis Ausan of Comelec Region 6 said.
Voter registration resumed but the poll body observed a low number of applicants in the region’s six provinces and two highly-urbanized cities.
Only 37,259 new voters have registered thus far out of the estimated 400,000 unregistered voters, Comelec-6’s Feb. 20 records showed.
Here’s the breakdown of new voter registrants:
* Aklan – 3,289
* Antique – 1,716
* Capiz – 3,702
* Guimaras – 517
* Iloilo – 13,021
* Negros Occidental – 14,992
Comelec-6 released this latest data in rectification of the figures earlier provided by Ausan.
During a press conference on Feb. 16, Ausan bared the region only logged 72,231 new voter registrants but he was actually referring to the total number of applications the agency processed.
In Western Visayas, 4,808,842 million voters are qualified to participate in the 2022 elections.
Negros Occidental, including the city of Bacolod, is the region’s top vote-rich province with 1,889,200 registered voters.
Iloilo province, including Iloilo City, came in next with 1,525,168 followed by Capiz (513,329), Aklan (390,360), Antique (371,244), and Guimaras (119,541).
WHY REGISTER?
While the interest in registering – especially among the youth – is unmistakable, Ausan said there are several factors that push the numbers down.
The first reason he cited was that people are afraid to catch coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The second, Ausan said, was the lingering suspicion among people that they won’t be allowed to go out and register.
But with safety health protocols in place, Ausan stressed the public should take advantage of the early days of the registration and not wait for the deadline.
Applications are accepted every Tuesdays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Offices of Election Officers in places where the applicants want to vote.
“Ang pagboto is the people’s chance to have their voices heard sa aton nga pang-gobyerno para makapili sang insakto nga mga opisyales,” Ausan told Panay News.
Roberto Salazar, Aklan provincial election supervisor, echoed Ausan’s call.
He pointed out that getting people to register to vote in 2022 is a non-partisan activity.
“Importante gid nga magpa-rehistro. Bal-an mo ang governance based on participatory democracy. Kon gusto mo magpasakop sa pang-gobyerno you have to be qualified and to be able to vote para makapili ka sang insakto nga mga lideres,” Salazar told Panay News.
Voter registration stopped last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resumption was also moved several times because of health safety concerns related to the COVId-19 pandemic.
THE PROCESS
So what’s the process for voters’ registration in time of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Here’s the complete guide to register:
Ensure you meet eligibility requirements
* Filipino citizen
* At least 18 years old on or before Election Day (May 9, 2022)
* A resident of the Philippines for at least one year and a resident of the place in which you intend to vote for at least six months
Find your Comelec office and book an appointment
* For many areas, this is your city hall. If you’re unsure, just run a quick search of “(your city) Comelec” and click on their official website or Facebook page. They will most likely have a booking system for appointments.
* Make sure you check their specific office hours, as this varies across locations. Due to the high volume of requests and limited space, it’s best to book appointments at least a week in advance.
Print and fill out Comelec forms at home
* Whereas most people need only fill out the CEF-1 and Coronavirus Self Declaration Form, there is also a supplementary data form for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and indigenous peoples.
* Filling everything out before your visit is recommended, leaving just the signatures and thumbprints left to accomplish at the Comelec office.
Photocopy at least one of the following valid identification cards (IDs):
* Employee’s ID, with the signature of the employer or authorized representative
* Postal ID
* PWD Discount ID
* Student’s ID or library card, signed by the school authority
* Senior Citizen’s ID
* Driver’s license
* NBI clearance
* Passport
* SSS/GSIS ID
* Integrated Bar of the Philippine (IBP) ID
* License issued by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC)
* Certificate of Confirmation issued by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in case of members of ICCs or IPs
Make sure to bring the following to your Comelec office:
* Accomplished forms
* Valid ID and photocopy of ID
* Own ballpen
* Facemask and face shield
* Alcohol or hand sanitizer
* Water (to stay hydrated)
Registration usually takes two hours. Some procedures may vary between municipalities, but here’s what to expect for your Comelec visit:
* Contact tracing
* Visitors tend to be limited, so you’ll likely be placed in an additional queue outside to fill out contact tracing forms.
Since you already filled out your application, this could be the longest part of the process:
* Application review and signature – an electoral officer will review your application, indicate any errors, and have you sign in front of him or her.
* Logging application into the system
* Your application will be digitized and entered into the Election Registration Board’s (ERB) system.
Biometrics capturing
* Have your photo taken and leave your digital signature and fingerprints.
Stub collection
* Comelec personnel will detach, date, and stamp your acknowledgment receipt.
* Screenshot from the official CEF-1 form
* Make sure to hold on to your receipt and keep it in a safe place. This is to acknowledge that you have applied for voter registration, but it hasn’t necessarily been approved.
* Approval can take months, and you may be asked to come back with the receipt./PN
