DESPITE the movement restrictions in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has signalled it will not extend the deadline for its ongoing voter registration.
In a brief statement on Monday, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez disclosed the registration will still end on Sept. 30, 2021 as scheduled.
“The Commission en banc has not – repeat NOT – discussed the possibility of extension of the voter registration period,” Jimenez said.
Earlier on Monday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros had urged the poll body to extend the registration period on account of the two-week ECQ that will again reduce the number of days that voters can list up.
To note, President Duterte placed Iloilo City, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro City, and Gingoog City under ECQ from August 1 to 7.
He also declared MECQ for Ilocos Norte, Bataan, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City from August 1 to 15.
In the case of the National Capital Region (NCR), it will be under ECQ from Aug. 6 to 20.
Jimenez said voter registration in the region will temporarily be suspended for the duration of its ECQ as in the case of other areas, which were placed under the same classification or under MECQ.
Comelec earlier said it was able to exceed its target 4 million registered new voters for the 2022 polls due to the satellite registrations it conducted nationwide.