SC asked to extend SK voter registration

Various youth groups yesterday brought to the Supreme Court (SC) their bid for extension of the registration period for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in October.

The groups led by Akbayan Youth and SK Reform Coalition asked the high court in a petition to order the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to extend for another 15 days the registration period that ran from July 15 to 30.

They questioned a portion of Comelec Resolution No. 10151 that set the special registration for 16 days.

Petitioners argued that the decision of the poll body to limit the period of registration to just two weeks violated Republic Act 10742 (SK Reform Act), which provides for a period of up to 30 days.

They specifically cited Section 31 of the law, which states that the Comelec set a special registration for the SK polls that “shall in no case be less than one month and shall include Saturdays and Sundays.”

“Clearly, therefore, the Comelec acted within its power to set the start of the special registration on July 15, 2016. However, it is also clear that the Comelec acted beyond its power when it set the last day of the special registration on July 30, 2016. The period fromJuly 15 to July 30 is inclusive of 16 calendar days, half of the minimum period mandated by Section 31,” read the petition.

They further alleged that thousands of voters from Manila, Bacolod, Albay, San Pablo, Iloilo, and Nagcarlan, Laguna were not able to register due to the short period provided by Comelec.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista earlier explained that the poll body could no longer extend the registration period because it would gravely affect preparations for the simultaneous barangay and SK polls on Oct. 31.

Bautista reiterated this yesterday, saying the Comelec is set to start the printing of the ballots on Aug. 21.

He added that when ordered by the high court, the Comelec will present the schedule to prove its point.

Bautista also criticized the habit of voters to wait until the last minute to register.

The poll chief noted that over two million voters aged 18 to 30 years have registered for the coming elections.

Bautista said the Comelec expects over 20 million voters to participate in the simultaneous polls.

He hopes that if Congress decides in favor of the postponement, it would come out with the resolution before the Comelec starts the printing of ballots.