Voter registration suspended in February 2015 to give way for SK polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will suspend for one month next year the ongoing nationwide voter registration to give way for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

The suspension was formalized through Comelec Resolution 9905 approved by the Comelec en banc on October 21, 2014.

“Resolved further, that the system of continuing registration of voters, validation, and updating of registration of records, for the 9 May 2016 Synchronized National, Local and ARMM Regional Elections shall be suspended effective from 01 February to 28 February 2015,” the resolution said.

The SK elections will be held on February 21, 2015.

The registration for the 2016 national and local elections started last May 6 and will run until October 31, 2015.

During the registration, the Comelec will capture biometrics of each voter. Voters without biometrics will be barred from participating in the succeeding polls.

Under Republic Act No. 10367, registered voters with no biometrics—digital photograph, digitally captured signature and fingerprints—will be deactivated.

Also under Resolution 9905, the election period for the SK will be from January 22 to March 2, 2015. The campaign period will start from February 11 up to 19.

The filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC), meanwhile, has been set from February 7 until February 10, 2015, except February 8, which falls on a Sunday.

Candidates can start campaigning on February 11 and will be allowed to do so until February 19, 2015.

The SK elections was originally scheduled on October 28, 2013, but was reset to February 21, 2015. —KBK, GMA News