Comelec chief registers biometric data at mall
Setting an example, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista yesterday submitted himself to biometrics procedures at a satellite registration booth at the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.
“I hope I am not given any special treatment because I don’t want any, because we really want to know how it feels to be a voter,” he told reporters while waiting in line at the Comelec registration booth for voters in District 4 in Quezon City. He resides in Barangay Mariana, New Manila.
Comelec personnel took Bautista’s digital photograph, signature and fingerprints. It took him around one hour, including the time queuing up, to complete the procedure.
With the poll chief were his two sisters, Susan BautistaAfan and Faustina Bautista,
who also underwent biometrics registration.
Prior to this, Bautista was among some 4.3 million voters who could get disenfranchised in next year’s elections for not having biometrics. He encouraged those without biometrics or not sure about having them to validate their registration.
“Those who have not validated their voter’s registration, you have until Oct. 31 to do so. If you want, you can check with your nearest mall when they will be hosting satellite registration. This weekend alone, there are 55 malls participating in our ‘No Bio No Boto’ campaign,” he said.
Bautista noted that even during weekdays, voters can go to their local Comelec office to register and validate their registration. He urged them not to wait for the deadline to register for their own convenience.
“We are giving them all the opportunity to register and validate their registration. So if they do not avail of this, that would be their fault. But what we want is for all eligible Filipinos to vote in 2016,” he added.
Bautista also said the Comelec is studying the possibility of including people with disability (PWDs) in early voting so they can vote with comfort next year. “But in doing so, we have to make sure that the credibility of the elections will be preserved. It is our responsibility to ensure that they can vote with ease and comfort,” he said.
The Comelec chief said they do not want any PWD to be disenfranchised just because they can’t go to polling precincts.
In the early voting scheme, voters will be able to vote only for national positions like the president, vice president, senators and party-list organizations. At present, only teachers, soldiers, policemen and members of media are covered by the advanced voting system.
There is a growing clamor to allow early voting for election lawyers and even the staff of candidates involved in the elections.