Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) that there are still about 4 million potential voters who need to get registered. They are the young people who have recently become eligible to register to vote for the May 2022 elections.
Voter registration resumed on September 1 in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) or modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) but the turnout according to the Comelec has so far been disappointing.
Registration will run until September 30, 2021 in preparation for the elections.
Registrants must be at least 18 years of age on or before Election Day. They must be at least a one-year resident of the Philippines and must have resided in the place where they intend to vote for at least six months on or before May 9, 2022.
The Comelec is preparing various contingencies as many experts have predicted that we will not see the end of this pandemic until 2022.
According to a report from the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, which was reported by Bloomberg News, the pandemic is likely to last as long as two years and to continue in waves that could last beyond 2022. The report said it won’t be controlled until about two-thirds of the world’s population is immune.
The Covid crisis would clearly affect how elections are usually held. The Comelec said it could hold the elections over two or more days if necessary, that is, if the pandemic has not been contained by such time.
We are glad, however, that the Comelec immediately thumbed down postponing the 2022 elections, a possibility that was raised by some politicians because of the pandemic.
Jimenez said conducting elections is a constitutional mandate that must be followed and there will most certainly be one held in 2022. He said they will do everything to make this possible, as well as to ensure that voters will not be at risk of getting infected, even if it involves having alternative modes of voting. This early we wish to congratulate the Comelec on its efforts.
Now, perhaps more than ever, the country needs a smooth transition of power to the next duly elected President. The last thing we need at this point is an election scandal or controversy. We need a credible election that could sustain democracy for the long term. We need stability that could lead to more jobs and opportunities, our best bets for economic development amidst this pandemic or after it.
We need the government to remain faithful to the provisions of the 1987 Constitution. The administration should ensure a peaceful transfer of power to the next President, who hopefully would be up to the task of helping our nation recover and rise from this pandemic.
With much at stake in the 2022 elections, we urge everyone eligible to vote who isn’t already registered to do so.
Many times, Filipino voters have been accused of being lazy, or of being stupid or ignorant about many of the issues facing the country. But much has changed over the years. Many voters are no longer clueless, especially in this information age when there is an ever-increasing number of media platforms. Dynasties have fallen in the last elections, proving people have actually paid attention to the performance and track record of their candidates.
Voting is the most important exercise of democracy. Each of us has one vote, at least ideally, because we know about the preponderance of flying voters, dead voters and the notorious practice of dagdag-bawas in this country.
We hope that many of those who doubt the integrity of our electoral system would register anyway.
Let us remember, it is not up to one Filipino to save this country. There will be more of the same, government as usual, if we don’t vote more honest and competent men and women into office, if we ourselves don’t get involved and help solve the problems of our country, if we don’t help ensure a free, fair and credible election.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano