COMELEC sets July 16 deadline for registration of political parties for 2019 mid-term elections

INTRAMUROS, Manila (15 Jul 2018) - POLITICAL parties, which will participate in next year's mid-term elections have only until this Monday to file their petitions for registration, according to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).


COMELEC Resolution 10395 fixes July 15, 2018, as the last day of filing petitions for registration of political parties and the registration of coalition of political parties on August 31, 2018.

However, since the deadline falls on a Sunday, the COMELEC en banc decided to extend submissions of petitions for registration of political parties until 5 p.m. on July 16, 2018, Monday.

Under Section 61, Article 8 of the Omnibus Election Code, "Any organized group of persons seeking registration as a national or regional political party may file with the Commission a verified petition attaching thereto its constitution and by-laws, platform or program of government and such other relevant information as may be required by the Commission.

The Commission shall, after due notice and hearing, resolve the petition within ten days from the date it is submitted for decision."

Petitions for registration may be submitted before the Clerk of the Commission.  Payment of a fee of P10,000 will be required.

The COMELEC has also resumed the system of continuing registration of voters for purposes of the scheduled May 13, 2019, national and local elections to give qualified Filipinos the opportunity to register and exercise their right to suffrage.

COMELEC Resolution 10392 sets the period for filing of an application for registration as voters from July 2 to September 29, 2018, Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays.

On the same dates, COMELEC offices around the country will also entertain applications for transfer/transfer with reactivation, reactivation, change/correction of entries/and including/reinstatement of records in the list of voters.

The resumption of the system of continuing registration of voters shall be conducted nationwide, except in Marawi City.

Section 8 of Republic Act (RA) 8189 or The Voter's Registration Act of 1996 provides for the system of continuing registration of voters. [William B. Depasupil, The Manila Times Online]