Drilon joins call for Comelec to extend voter registration for Eleksyon 2022

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Tuesday joined the calls for the Commission on Election (Comelec) to extend the voter registration period for next year's national and local elections.

“I endorse the extension of the registration period given the restrictions on people’s movements because of the pandemic. I don’t see any harm with extending this registration period,” Drilon told reporters in a virtual interview.

He also encouraged qualified individuals to “register as voters because the election next year is critical.”

Senator Risa Hontiveros has earlier urged the poll body to extend the voter registration period, at least in areas which are affected by the two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) this August.

She underscored that two more weeks may “prove critical” for the country’s future.

“I agree that deadlines should be observed. But, hopefully, in this case, COMELEC can make one last necessary extension. Huwag naman sanang i-quarantine pati ang karapatan ng mga tao na bumoto (I hope they won’t quarantine the people’s right to vote),” Hontiveros said.

The Comelec last week said it would suspend voter registration in the National Capital Region during the implementation of the ECQ from August 6 to 20.

On Monday, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the poll body has not discussed any possibility to extend the voter registration for the 2022 elections beyond its September 30, 2021 deadline.

In June, Comelec said at least 60 million voters had already registered for next year's national and local polls.  —KBK, GMA News