New poll registrants nearing 3 million

MANILA, Philippines — The number of people who have registered their intention to participate in the May 2022 elections is now nearing three million.

Data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed a total of 2,770,561 voter registration applicants nationwide from Sept. 1 last year to April 20.

Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) posted the biggest number of voter registration applicants with 396,529 followed by the National Capital Region (NCR) with 295,357; Central Luzon with 271,869 and Central Visayas with 202,370.

The lowest number of applicants was recorded in the Cordillera Administrative Region with 42,204, followed by Caraga with 87,892; Cagayan Valley with 94,462 and Mimaropa (Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) with 96,180.

The Comelec is looking to enlist four million new voters until the deadline for registration on Sept. 30.

Comelec had previously suspended voter registration activities in the NCR, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite after the areas were placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in late March.

Voter registration also remains suspended in Abra, Quirino and Santiago City, Isabela as they have been placed under modified ECQ since April 12.

Voter registration activities, however, are ongoing in other parts of the country under general community quarantine/modified GCQ from Monday to Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.