No more tomorrow for voter registration

Tempers are flaring up at various voter registration centers throughout the country as lines for deadlinebeaters stretched longer and patience wore thin in the last two days of securing one’s right to vote in next year’s elections.

Yesterday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reiterated what it had been telling people in ads and the news that there will be no extending the registration days beyond the Oct. 31, 2015 deadline – today.

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez advised all voters planning to register or validate their biometrics record today to go to the registration site early in order to complete the process and avoid longer queues by midday.

“There is no plan yet to extend. The Chairman (Andres Bautista) will announce tomorrow (Saturday) if there will be an extension based on what we see in the field,” Jimenez said in an interview.

But from what he observed, Jimenez said many are still registering

as of yesterday.

Voter registration started May, 2014, but its only now that some voters took time to register just days before the deadline.

This has resulted in long lines, impatience among voters and even arguments among those in the line or with Comelec employees.

Due to the heavy influx of irate registrants, all demanding to be accommodated ahead of others, tension and hostility have become a common occurrence at voter registration centers and at the receiving end of such misplaced aggression are Comelec officers.

The Comelec Employees Union, meantime, appealed for understanding and patience from the public.

“We barely have enough time to eat and even respond to nature’s call while on duty at registration centers, and yet we are berated and scolded at daily by registrants who came in the last-minute. We are doing our best to accommodate everybody. So please spare Comelec employees,” the Comelec-EU said in a statement.

“Many are still registering. People keep coming, but our election officers can handle it,” Jimenez assured.

Some of their election officers, Jimenez said, even extended their working hours just to accommodate more people.

“Last night (Thursday night), they stayed until 10 p.m. in Quezon City. Our individual EOs they are taking the initiative to accommodate as many people as possible,” he said.

Earlier, Jimenez said voters who are registering only now should not blame the poll body for the long lines at the different registration centers.

He said lines were much shorter if only voters wanting to register or validate their biometrics record came much earlier.

“For the deadline beaters, the Comelec feels bad that you are having a difficult time, but ultimately this is the situation of your own doing. You could have done this much sooner, you could have done this with much less trouble if you registered even just a month before now,” Jimenez said.

“Lines then were very short. You could actually complete the process from start to finish in 15 minutes. If you are not having a walk in the park right now, don’t be surprised. It’s not our fault. We are trying to make it easy as possible for you, but ultimately, the system will have its limitation,” he added.