Election officer: ‘No more flying voters’

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Provincial Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde yesterday said it is no longer possible to have “flying voters” in the elections.

He said that if a registered voter desires to transfer his registration, the Comelec would ask him to submit a written withdrawal of registration so as to avoid double or multiple registrations.

Besides, he said, Comelec’s biometrics scanner is now capable of determining multiple registrations.

“That’s why, there is no such thing as flying voter,” he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Hilario Davide III yesterday appealed for those qualified to register with the Commission on Elections as early as now evenw hen the deadline for voter’s registration is still next year.

He said people usually go to the Comelec only during the few days before the deadline or even on the last day itself, resulting to very long queues.  He liked to see a change in this habit.

“I urge everybody nga  gusto gyud mo-participate in the elections to register early. I encourage these voters especially katong bag-o lang ni-18 (those who just turned 18 to register),” he told reporters.

He appealed for the media to help the government in urging the public to register early, even when the deadline is still on Oct. 31, 2015.

Meanwhile, Gujilde said yesterday said registration does not guarantee that the person is already a qualified voter and can already cast his vote in the elections.

He said submission of registration forms to the local offices only means they are subject for action by the Election Registration Board.

“As a matter of fact, ang gigamit nga word ana sa balaod is proposal to vote. Ang among buhaton, every three months mag-convene ang ERB then (we) decide if (the application is) approved or disapproved,” he added.

Gujilde said applications for registration could also be contested by politicians or any ‘interested’ party, with lack of residency as most common ground for their objection.

“Kasagaran nila nga (Usually what they cite as) ground (for denial of application) is lack of residency, which again I say is not (really) a ground for denial… kay ang ilang pagtoo sa (they think) lack of residency is (measured) prior to registration. No it’s not. It’s (reckoned) prior to the election,” he told reporters.

Under election rules, an applicant must be a Filipino citizen, at least 18 years old, a resident of the Philippines for at least one year, a resident in the place wherein he/she desires to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the election, and has not been disqualified by law to be able to vote.

As to the verification of registration, a voter can personally visit or call his local Comelec office on  his registration record. He can also visit the Comelec’s official website www.comelec.gov.ph.

Comelec-Cebu reported a total of 3, 906 who registered on the first day of voter’s registration last Tuesday. 

Applications also included the transfer of registration records, change of name, corrections of entries, reactivation of registration record, reinstatement of name in the list of voters, Inclusion of registration records in the book of voters, validation of registration of records, and updating of records of persons with disabilities. — (FREEMAN)