600,000 disenfranchised voters renew registration

MANILA, Philippines — Only 600,000 of 7.3 million deactivated voters have so far renewed their registrations for the 2022 general elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Saturday.

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon posted the figure on her Twitter account, noting that voter registration will end on Sept. 30

Guanzon urged the 6.7 million more deactivated voters to avoid the rush and renew their registration so they could participate in the 2022 elections.

She said the poll body would not extend the deadline for the registration.

The Comelec has opened satellite voter registration centers in areas around the country where quarantine restrictions have been eased.

The poll body will sign an agreement today with Robinsons Land Corp. for the establishment of voter registration booths in select malls nationwide.

In another development, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez has suggested coming up with a drive against premature campaigners.

“Wouldn’t it be cool if someone sponsors a massive billboard ad that features a big red and says ‘Ekis na ang premature campaigner’ or some snappy copy like that,” Jimenez said on Twitter.

The Supreme Court has tied the hands of the Comelec with its ruling that there is no such thing as premature campaigning.