Comelec suspends voter registration due to virus

The Commission on Elections has suspended voter registration in light of the increasing number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country.

“As a response to the growing threat to public health posed by COVID19, VoterReg2020 has been suspended by the COMELEC until the 31st of March 2020,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said Monday.

Jimenez said the suspension will take effect nationwide on Tuesday, March 10, 2020.

IMPT ANNOUNCEMENT: As a response to the growing threat to public health posed by #COVID19, #VoterReg2020 has been suspended by the @COMELEC, until the 31st of March 2020. The suspension will take effect nationwide tomorrow. The public is advised to take all necessary precaution.

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) March 9, 2020

“The public is advised to take all necessary precaution to limit their exposure to the possibility of COVID-19 infection,” Jimenez added.

The voter registration period started on January 20 this year and was originally scheduled to run until September 30, 2021.

The Philippines currently has 10 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus. — BM, GMA News