MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday, October 20, said it is considering to extend the voters’ registration in areas hit by Typhoon Lando (Koppu).
In a news conference, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said the possible extension could cover the areas worst hit by Lando – Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.
The deadline for voters’ registration is on October 31.
This comes after Lando ravaged northern and central Luzon, killing at least 12 people and affecting nearly 300,000.
Bautista said the Comelec will decided on the proposed extension by next week, after getting feedback from the regional election directors.
For now, the elections chief said he has not received an “SOS” from election offices. At the same time, however, these offices had already been “in a bad state” before Lando struck.
Lawmaker: Extension ‘breeds complacency’
Bautista said: “The election offices are located in the municipal hall or the city hall. So if the city is unable to function, then it is possible that the election office is unable to function as well. But vice versa, if the city is able to continue delivering services, the election office should be able to continue as well.”
He added, “We have not received reports about not being able to function.”
Before Lando, the Comelec said it is not inclined to extend the voters’ registration period.
On Tuesday, the Comelec chairman quoted Capiz 2nd District Representative Fredenil Castro, chair of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, as saying he doesn’t want to extend the voters’ registration “because it breeds complacency.”
Quoting by Bautista, Castro said “enough time has been given to Filipino voters to register or to validate their biometrics,” and that the registration shouldn’t be extended “to put some discipline into the process.” – Rappler.com