Comelec sees higher voter registration for SK polls

The Commission on Elections ( Comelec) reported a large turnout of prospective voters during the first day of registration for the Oct. 31 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections yesterday.

“For the first day, I’m very happy with the turnout. Many of our countrymen and youths are registering,” Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said.

The Comelec chief made the statement after a visit to the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) in Quezon City.

More new and young voters are expected to register today and tomorrow since many people do not have work on weekends.

Bautista is confident that the high number of registrants will continue until the last day of registration.

The Comelec expects around six million Filipinos to register for the barangay and SK elections.

The poll body earlier announced that OEOs nationwide are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends during the 16-day registration period.

Those who were unable to validate their biometric records or those with deactivated records may also register.

Meanwhile, Bautista reiterated his support for the holding of the barangay and SK polls simultaneously with the planned constitutional convention (con-con).

He said the government will save billions of pesos if the elections and con-con will be held jointly.

Active participation sought

In a related development, members of Akbayan Youth trooped to the Comelec office in Intramuros yesterday to dramatize their call for the active participation of youths in the coming elections.

The group urged the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education to excuse students from their classes so they could register even during school days.

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