Voters’ registration set Nov. 4 to 6

With the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will resume voters’ registration from Nov. 4 to 6.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said yesterday the registration period is intended especially for those who will turn 15 years old by May 14, 2018 so they could participate in the SK elections.

Filipino citizens who are at least 15 years old but not more than 30 years old on or before election day and residing in the barangay for at least six months can register to participate in the SK elections.

Qualified to vote in regular elections are Filipino citizens at least 18 years old on or before election day, a resident of the Philippines for at least one year, and residents in the place where they plan to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the elections.

President Duterte signed Republic Act 10952 postponing the barangay and SK elections from Oct. 23 this year to May 2018.

Bautista said they decided to shelve the voters’ registration from December 2017 to September 2018 for the midterm elections in May 2019.

“We have to conduct the 2018 elections first. The 2019 voters’ registration will happen after the 2018 barangay and SK elections,” Bautista said.

Almost P1 B spent

Bautista said the Comelec spent almost P1 billion preparing for the barangay and SK polls.

“Our total budget is around P7.6 billion, but we have spent more or less P900 million,” he said.

Bautista said the money was spent for printing 59.5 million ballots for Luzon and the Visayas. Ballots for Mindanao were not printed as the Comelec had earlier cancelled the elections due to the implementation of martial law.

He said P350 million went to other expenses such as salaries of election personnel.

Bautista said only P550 million could be used for the elections next year.