BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – After a low turnout during the holidays, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Occidental said the number of voter registrants has started to pick up.
Voter applicants reached 6,023 on the fourth week of registration – a sharp increase from the first three weeks of the list-up – data from Comelec-Negros Occidental showed.
Data also showed that the first week of registration posted 4,319 applicants, and this slowed down to 3,452 on the second week, and 2,036 by the third week.
Atty. Ian Ananoria, provincial elections supervisor, said the low turnout in the second and third weeks were due to the hectic holiday season.
As of Jan. 7, Bacolod City has the most number of applicants at 2,084 or roughly more the 15,000 after four weeks.
In Negros Occidental, San Carlos City has the most number of voter applicants after the four-week period with a total of 1,273.
Anonoria said the registration could pick up this month, adding that most of the registrants would likely be young people.
“We are accepting all types of applications like new voter, transfer, reactivation, reinstatement, change/correction of entries, and overseas to local registration,” Ananoria said.
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 proofs of identifications 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, persons with disability ID, Indigenous Peoples certificate from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and notarized barangay certification with applicant’s photo and signature.
To qualify as voters for the barangay election, applicants should be 18 years old and above, Filipinos 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 Sangguniang Kabataan 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.
The voters’ registration will be until Jan. 31, 2023./PN
