Voter registration and validation of registration records in areas not within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) resumed on Tuesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.
The continuing registration in non-ARMM areas was supposed to resume on April 1, 2011 but was moved to May 3, 2011. It will end on Oct. 31, 2012.
However, the Comelec said voter registration will take a short break from Dec. 22, 2011 to Jan. 3, 2012. The next national elections will be conducted in May 2013.
In Comelec Resolution 9168, the poll body said voter registration was reset because their regional election directors needed more time to procure and deliver voter application forms to the offices of provincial election supervisors.
Comelec Resolution 9149 says that voters not yet registered are required to personally file at the Office of the Election Officer in the city or municipality where the applicant resides their applications for:
registration;
transfer of registration records;
change or correction of entries in the registration records;
reactivation of registration records;
inclusion of registration records, or
reinstatement of name in the list of voters.
Registration hours
The Comelec said applications will be received from Monday to Saturday, including holidays, during regular office hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
However, it said satellite registrations for detainee voters in detention centers shall also be conducted beginning January 12, 2012 to "ensure wider voter participation."
However, the Comelec announced in a separate resolution that resumption of voter registration in 10 municipalities in the 1st district of Ilocos Sur will be moved to July 1, 2011 since the poll body still has to conduct special elections in the area on May 28.
The 10 municipalities are: Bantay, Cabugao, Caoayan, Magsingal, San Ildefonso, San Juan, San Vicente, Sta. Catalina, Sinait, and Vigan City.
On the other hand, the 10-day voter registration for the August 2011 ARMM polls ended last March 31.
Requirements
The poll body said any Filipino citizen who is at least 18 years old, a resident for at least one year in the place where he intends to vote – for at least six months immediately preceding the election day – may file an application for registration.
Applicants need only bring any valid ID when they register, such as but not limited to:
Current employee’s ID, with the signature of the employer or authorized representative;
Postal ID;
Student’s ID or library card, signed by the school authority;
Senior citizen’s ID;
Driver’s license;
NBI/PNP clearance;
Passport;
SSS/GSIS ID;
Integrated Bar of the Philippine (IBP) ID, and
License issued by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC).
The Comelec reminded applicants that community tax certificates (cedula) and barangay certifications will not be honored as valid identification documents. - VVP, GMA News
