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Senate OKs on third reading bill seeking one-month extension of voter registration


The Senate on Monday approved on third reading the measure that seeks to extend voter registration for Eleksyon 2022 to October 31, 2021.

There are only three days left before the Comelec's deadline for voter registration on September 30, 2021.

All twelve senators approved and signed Senate Bill No. 2408 which seeks the extension of Registration of Voters for the 2022 National and Local Elections despite the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) continued refusal to prolong the process.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, the main sponsor of the bill, said Senate will adopt the House of Representatives’ version of the measure, which the lower chamber approved on second reading. 

With this, the measure need not undergo a bicameral conference committee meeting "since there are no differences and disagreeing provisions to be reconciled in the two bills."

After the Senate adopts the House bill, it will immediately be sent to Malacañang for the President's signature.

“Hopefully the President will sign this request,” Zubiri said in a statement, adding that extending the deadline will accommodate more eligible voters amid the pandemic.

Over 12 million voters could get "disenfranchised" if voter registration ends on September 30, Zubiri added.

Senators said several suspensions in 2020 due to the pandemic impacted on the registration schedules.

As of June 2021, Comelec said there are around 60 million registered voters for the 2022 elections which is short of the 73.3 million projected voting population.—LDF, GMA News

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