Comelec to allow night voter registration

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will allow night voter registration to enable more voters to participate in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in December.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body is adopting an enhanced version of its Register Anywhere Program (RAP) once the 11-day general registration starts on July 1.

Garcia said the Comelec would bring the RAP night voter registration in airports, seaports, call centers and other areas where people are present.

The Comelec said it would tap the night voter registration when it implements the RAP in 2026.

“This way, people will have no more reasons not to register for the next elections,” Garcia said.

Around one million people are expected to register during the 11-day voter registration period.

Applications for new registration, reactivation and transfer of registration will be accepted during the period.

Meanwhile, Garcia said the poll body would not extend the June 11 deadline for the submission of statements of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) by candidates, party-list and political parties that participated in the recently concluded midterm elections.

“You have to face the consequences of non-filing of SOCEs,” he warned candidates and parties.

Garcia said the Comelec would post on its website all submitted SOCEs.