A lawmaker is protesting the Commission on Elections (Comelec) policy to limit registration in each center to 200 voters a day, which is not enough to accommodate the estimated two million Filipinos expected to sign up in the extended period for registration.
Kabataan Party-list Representative Raymond Palatino, in a statement, said: “We have received reports nationwide of thousands of youths availing themselves of the extended registration period only to be sent home by Comelec officials. The general complaint we are getting is that Comelec centers accept only 200 registrants per day and then refuse to accommodate the rest despite long lines of prospective new registrants.”
Palatino said that this meant that the centers would close shop just an hour after its opening at 10 a.m. upon meeting their quota, leaving hundreds of voters frustrated.
Palatino said that other complaints included the late opening of registration centers, insufficient number of satellite offices and registration forms, and the unresolved difficulties in the process that necessitated multiple extensions.
He said the Comelec has so far ignored his group’s suggestions and help on how to improve the system.
Palatino said that the Comelec should be compelled to conduct the registration process up to Jan. 9 as mandated by the Supreme Court. The Comelec, however, has scheduled only five days for registration—from Dec. 21 to 23 and Dec. 28 to 29 with the remaining days allotted to settle disputes on registrations.
“We expect millions to avail themselves of the remaining two days of extended voter registration. We hope the Comelec re-opens, more prepared and accommodating,” he said.
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