COMELEC: Voter registration now available on Saturdays

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has made voter registration available on Saturdays. 

On Twitter, COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said the new schedule has been created to allow those who are turning 18 years old and those who are working from Monday to Friday to register for the May 2022 national and local polls.

YES Saturday registration @COMELEC will start in Feb. Guys, this was your request those turning 18 and those working M -F. So no excuses , register na !

— Rowena Guanzon (@rowena_guanzon) February 3, 2021

According to the Philippine News Agency, COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez disclosed that they have recorded about 1.3 million applicants for registration as of Monday, Feb. 1. However, it’s still “far from the four million target new registrants.”

Voter registration is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will end on Sept. 30.

Looking to register? Make sure you're a Filipino citizen, at least 18 years old (on or before election day) and a resident of the Philippines for at least one year. You also need to be a resident of the place where you're looking to vote for at least six months. If you're eligible, you may start preparing the requirements such as valid identity documents and completed application form.

After booking an appointment via your local COMELEC office's official website, you may refer to this quick guide for the next steps you need to follow:

Just in case the COVID-19 crisis continues, PNA reported that the COMELEC is planning to let in at least five voters at a time at precincts for the upcoming elections.

Apart from this, they are adding more vote-counting machines. COMELEC chairman Sheriff Abas also said they are looking for other ways “to allow people to exercise their right to suffrage without sacrificing their safety amid the pandemic.”

Jimenez shared they are considering mail voting and online voting, but such would still need approval from Congress.