Comelec suspends biometrics validation

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has suspended the ongoing validation of records for voters without or with incomplete biometrics.

 

The poll body decided on the said action to give more time for election officers in the local levels to "maximize their workforce" for the 2013 synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, which will start on October 28.

 

“In order to maximize the workforce of the Offices of the Election Officers nationwide in the conduct of the registration of voters and listing of Katipunan ng Kabataan as well as for other preparatory activities for the Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, there is a need to suspend the conduct of validation,” the Comelec en banc said in Resolution No. 9741.

Earlier, the Comelec set the start of the validation of biometrics on July 1.

 

However, the voters’ registration from July 22 to 31, 2013 will push through, the poll body said.

 

The Comelec earlier said a total of 9,018,256 registered voters do not have biometrics data or have incomplete information in the system. 

 

Those who fail to update their biometrics records will not be able to vote for the 2016 national presidential elections, according to the recently passed Mandatory Biometrics Registration Act.

The removed voters may reactivate their registration only after the 2016 polls, pursuant to the Voter's Registration Act of 1996.

 

According to Comelec Resolution No. 9721 promulgated June 26, "It is the policy of the Commission to establish a clean, complete, permanent, and updated list of voters through the adoption of biometrics technology (digital photograph, fingerprints and signature) using the Voter Registration Machine (VRM)." — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/KG, GMA News