MANILA – The Commission on Elections is reminding the public to register early during the resumption of the continuing voters’ registration which will start on Monday, 7 November 2016, at the local Offices of the Election Officers (OEOs). “While we will have a longer registration period, we are still urging voters to register early to avoid long queues as we are expecting 5 million more registrants,” Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said. The Commission is expecting three million voters for the Barangay elections and additional two million for the Sangguniang Kabataan elections. The registration period will run from 7 November 2016 to 29 April 2017, Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 AM to 5 PM, except on December 24 and 25, and April 13 and 14. “The Commission will maximize the opportunity to register as many voters as possible in the five-month registration period. We will be receiving applications even on Saturdays and holidays. We will also be conducting mandatory satellite registrations at least twice in every barangay, nationwide,” Jimenez added. The Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will be held on 23 October 2017.
Meanwhile, Filipino citizens overseas will be able to register for the May 13, 2019 National elections and subsequent elections from 01 December 2016 to 30 September 2018, according to Comelec Resolution 10167 which was promulgated on 28 October 2016.
Section 6 of the Resolution states that: “All citizens of the Philippines, who are at abroad or will be abroad during the 30 day voting period, at least 18 years of age on the day of the elections and not otherwise disqualified by law, may register.”
Applicants can secure their Overseas Form No. 1 (OVF 1) either at the Post, through the websites of the Commission, DFA, OFOV, or any Post, or file online using the iRehistro facility.
“We encourage Filipinos registrants abroad to file their applications online through the iRehistro facility at www.comelec.gov.ph. This alternative system of registration was a major contributor to the high registration turnout for overseas voting for the May 2016 elections,” Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said.
Based on Comelec data, 1,376,067 overseas Filipino voters registered worldwide for the May 2016 elections. 1,326,728 are land-based voters, while 49,339 are seafarers. 737,759 overseas voters registered in the 2013 midterm elections.
The iRehistro Project was launched in Madrid, Spain in May 2014 and has been expanded to 85 foreign service posts worldwide. (COMELEC)