MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be holding at least two satellite registrations in every barangay in the country, to encourage the people to register for the 2017 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls.
In Comelec Resolution No. 10166, the commission en banc has directed every Election Officer (EO) to conduct more than one satellite registration in every barangay under his/her jurisdiction.
“The Election Officer (EO) shall intensify the conduct of mandatory satellite registration at least twice, in every barangay,” said the ruling issued on October 25.
The satellite registration could be held in barangay halls, public/private schools, commercial establishments, detention centers, resettlement areas, indigenous community areas, and other public places within the city/district/municipality.
The poll body added that requests for the holding of other satellite registration activities may also be allowed, but subject to the approval of Regional Election Directors (REDs) and/or Provincial Election Supervisors (PES) upon the recommendation of the EOs.
“Any interested party may request for the conduct of satellite registration,” the Resolution added.
Qualifications include having the number of prospective applicants in the proposed venue to be not less than 200; buildings where satellite registration will be conducted are not owned, least, or occupied by any incumbent public official or a person related within fourth civil degree; having a written notice of the schedule and venue of the satellite registration in the bulletin boards of the Offices of the EOs; provision of the transportation voter registration machines, forms and supplies, and the Comelec personnel.
On Tuesday, the Comelec announced that it is set to resume the registration for next year’s village and youth polls on November 7.
The voter registration period will be until April 29, 2017, including Saturdays and holidays, except on December 24 and 25, 2016 and April 13 and 14, 2017.
Two million additional voters for the SK election and three million for the Barangay elections are expected to register during the close to six months registration period.
The Comelec was able to register a total of 3,095,187 voters during the July 15 to 30 registration, prior to the postponed October 31 barangay and SK polls.
The commission is preparing for the resumption of the voter registration after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law moving the October 31 polls to October 23, 2017. PNA-northboundasia.com