MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has recorded more than 700,000 new registrants during the first week of the ongoing voter registration as part of its prep rations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in December.
In a Viber message, Comelec acting spokesman Rex Laudiangco said their satellite offices recorded a total of 757,316 new registrants as of July 11, composed of 473,565 aged 15 to 17; 242,633 aged 18 to 30, and 41,118 who are 31 years old and above.
The figures exceeded the target new registrants as the Comelec had earlier said up to 400,00 voters are expected to participate in the ongoing registration.
Voter registration, which resumed on July 4, will run until July 23.
Laudiangco said the poll body received 1,013,805 applications related to the voter registration, including 133,829 for transfer from other cities and municipalities and 32,466 for transfer from within the same city or municipality.
He said the Comelec also received 5,650 applications for transfer with reactivation, 1,941 for transfer with reaction and correction of entries, 6,922 for transfer with correction of entries and 38,832 for reactivation.
Laudiangco said Comelec offices nationwide received 8,961 applications for reactivation with correction of entries, 25,478 for change of names or correction of entries, 33 for inclusion in the book of voters, 13 for reinstatement in the voters’ list and 2,364 for transfer from overseas to local voting.
With more than a week before the end of the voter registration, Laudiangco urged the public to avoid the rush and visit local Comelec offices.
Comelec offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Saturday, including holidays.