Comelec reminds public to register for barangay, SK polls

MANILA, Philippines – As the registration period for the barangay and Sanggunian Kabataan elections opened last Friday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) advised the public to take advantage of the 15-day period of registration.

The registration period for the Barangay and SK elections slated on October 26 started last Firday, July 15 and will only run until July 30.

For the registration, Comelec offices will be open to accept registrants during office hours 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., including Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.

To register to vote for the SK polls, voters must be 15 years old but not more than 30 years old on election day, Oct. 31, 2016 and must have been residing in the barangay for at least six months on election day. On the other hand, voters in the barangay polls must be 18 years old on or before October 2016, must have resided in the country for at least a year and must be residing in the barangay for at least six months before election day.

Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista reminded those who want to register for the village and youth polls to download the registration form and print them ahead of visiting the Office of Election Officer in their city or municipality to ease the registration process. He said the accomplished triplicate forms will make registration quicker.

"Para siguro mapabilis ang pag register i-download na nila ang form sa Comelec website pagkatapos pagpunta nila sa mga registration centers naka fill up na para diretso na sila sa data capturing," Bautista was quoted in a Philippine News Agency report.

The poll body is expecting about six million registrants this year.  —With reports from PNA/Ferdinand Patinio