Comelec: No discussions to extend voter registration period despite ECQ

The Commission on Elections on Monday said it has not discussed any possibility to extend the voter registration for Eleksyon 2022 beyond its deadline.

"The Commission en banc has not -- repeat NOT-- discussed possibility of extension of voter registration period," said the poll body's spokesman James Jimenez in a statement to reporters.

This despite some lawmakers asking to extend the voter registration period especially as voter registration will be halted during the two-week strict lockdown.

Comelec will be stopping the voter registration period on September 30, 2021.

Earlier in the day, Senator Risa Hontiveros asked the Comelec to extend the voter registration period at least in areas that will be under a two-week ECQ.  

So far, the ECQ— the strictest level of COVID-19 curbs — will only be implemented in the National Capital Region, as the government tries to limit the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant.

"I agree that deadlines should be observed. But, hopefully, in this case, Comelec can make one last necessary extension," Hontiveros said.

"COVID-19's Delta variant has already disrupted our communities. Let it not get in the way of our citizens' desire to participate in the May 2022 elections."

Meanwhile, voter registration for Eleksyon 2022 will be conducted until August 5, Thursday as some areas, including Metro Manila, will be placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). 

"Voter registration will continue until Thursday, in areas currently conducting voter registration operations," Jimenez said.

"The walk-thru date still hasn't been confirmed," Jimenez added.

Malacañang had declared that National Capital Region would be placed under ECQ, which would take a hit on the economy, from August 6 to August 20 to suppress the spread of the highly contagious Delta coronavirus variant. 

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said the two-week ECQ could cost P105 billion and 444,000 people will get unemployed for the duration of the two-week ECQ.  

As of July, brand new voter registrants, or those who had just reached 18 years old,  surpassed 4.3 million. In June, Comelec said at least 60 million voters had already registered for next year's national and local polls. — RSJ, GMA News