Comelec directs Eleksyon 2022 candidates to register verified accounts, pages until Jan. 31

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has directed candidates and parties for the May 2022 national and local elections to register their official accounts and websites not later than January 31.

The poll body issued Resolution No. 10748 that clarifies certain items in Section 9c of Resolution No. 10730, which is about the use of the internet, mobile platforms, and social media for purposes of election propaganda.

The Comelec resolved to amend items in Comelec Resolution No. 10730 or the Rules and Regulations Implementing Republic Act No. 9006, otherwise known as Fair Elections Act:

"Each registered political party/coalitions and bona fide candidate shall register with the Education and Information Department (EID) of the Comelec, the official accounts, websites, blogs and/or social media pages of political parties/coalitions or candidates which are already verified upon registration, and also those that will be verified subsequent to registration, provided that the same are being or will be used for the endorsement of his/her candidacy or candidacies of its members."

The Comelec said registration shall be done online through the following link: https://bit.ly/2022NLESocMed, not later than January 31, 2022.

Further, the poll body said only verified accounts, websites, blogs, and/or social media pages may run electoral ads, and boost or promote electoral posts, without prejudice to the existing policy of each specific platform for running electoral ads and/or boosting or promoting electoral posts.

The resolution was approved last December 16, 2021.

Earlier, Comelec said it would work with social media platforms Facebook and Twitter for the verification of Eleksyon 2022 candidates’ accounts.

This is among the poll body’s steps to fight disinformation and misinformation in connection with the elections. — RSJ, GMA News