BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental has 35,801 new voters as of yesterday morning, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) revealed.
A total of 11,811 individuals registered last week – the highest in six weeks following the resumption of registration for new voters, according to Comelec provincial election supervisor, Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria.
The number is expected to swell as the Jan. 31 registration deadline nears. More people are projected to troop to Comelec and its satellite registration sites.
Ananoria said most of the new registrants in satellite registration sites are those participating in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
The Comelec voters’ registration has been plagued with low turnout due to the holiday season.
However, numbers quickly grew in the middle of January.
Online registration is also available, but only for those who want their registration to be reactivated for failure to vote twice.
Applicants are advised to bring valid proof of identification such as national ID (PhilSYS), passport, driver’s license, employment ID, student ID or library card signed by the management of the school, college or university, senior citizen’s ID, person with disability (PWD) ID, Indigenous Peoples certificate from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and notarized barangay certification with applicant’s photo and signature.
To qualify as barangay election voters, applicants should be 18 years old and above, Filipino residing in the Philippines for at least one year, and residing in the area where he/she is looking to get registered for at least six months prior to election day.
For SK voters, applicants must be a Filipino, aged between 15 to 30 years old, and residing in the area where he/she is looking to get registered for at least six months prior to election day./PN
