Article by:
Ernie Esconde
BALANGA City, Bataan – People registering for the national and local elections in May 2022 continued to troop to the city and municipal offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in this province on Thursday.
Long lines of those who intend to vote next year were observed in the city election office in this city and the municipal election office in Pilar town.
Reports showed a similar influx of registrants in other towns, particularly in Mariveles and Hermosa.
Balanga city election officer Melanio Sibayan said people started to line up before 7 a.m., especially those who still have to report for work.
He said the influx of registrants has been noticeable since Sept. 6 when Comelec offices again started accepting applicants for registration after being closed for a few months when Bataan was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and later, modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
Sibayan said they do not set a daily quota but decided to issue numbers to applicants to avoid overcrowding in the election office.
He said they register 180 to 200 applicants per day.
There are also many resorting to online registration, who they prioritize, but presently, the system is down, Sibayan said.
He reminded registrants to bring with them the necessary registration forms that are downloadable from the Comelec website as well as other requirements to avoid delays.
“Nagpapasalamat kami na marami ang pumupunta dito at meron na silang form na dala-dala na kinukuha nila sa Comelec website. Sana lahat ng mga botante ganoon ang gawin para ma-lessen ang oras at mapabilis ang registration (We are thankful that many who are coming here have forms which they got from the Comelec website. Hopefully, all the voters will do the same to lessen the time and hasten the registration),” Sibayan said.
He also reminded registrants to wear face masks and observe safe physical distancing.
Voters' registration will go on until Sept. 30 with Comelec offices open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays.
As of July 24, Bataan, with 11 towns and one city comprising 237 barangays, has 519,337 registered voters. (PNA)
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