ILOILO City – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) encourages everyone, especially those who have just turned 18 years old or will be on the day of the National and Local Elections in May 2025, to register and exercise their right of suffrage.
Voter registration will kick off on Feb. 12 and run until Sept. 30, 2024, said Comelec-6 regional director Atty. Dennis Ausan.
“Matuod ina nga ang aton commission had already come out with the schedule for the resumption of the continuing registration as mandated by RA (Republic Act) 8189,” Ausan told Panay News.
Applicants may visit the nearest city or municipal election offices to register with their birth certificate and valid identification card. Registrants must accomplish one copy of the application form, which is available free of charge at the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) or may be downloaded at www.comelec.gov.ph and printed on long bond paper (8 in. x 13 in.).
“Gina-encourage gid naton sila nga magkadto sa aton opisina or opisina sang election officers kon sa diin sila napahamtang kag mag-apply for registration,” Ausan added.
He emphasized that they are not only accepting new registrations but also applications for transfer or transfer of residence, reactivation, correction of entry, and change of status, among others.
City and municipal election offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday, including holidays.
Ausan explained that the Comelec is open even on Saturdays and holidays because they want to give time to students and those who work on weekdays.
Aside from this, the Comelec has declared that there will be no voter registration from March 28 to 30 in observance of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Black Saturday, respectively.
Comelec is also set to conduct satellite registrations, particularly by going to barangays to make it accessible to persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and other people who have difficulty going to the town proper to register./PN
