Barangay, SK elections registration July 15-30

EDITORIAL

New voters and those who failed to vote in two previous elections can register now for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections from July 15 to 30.

The Commission on Elections, under Resolution No.10148, fixed the date of the resumption of continuing registration, inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista said barangay and SK elections in October will be manual but the registration of voters will be in biometric form, which requires registrants to appear personally before the Comelec offices nearest them.

Qualified to register for the SK polls are Filipino citizens who are not registered voters, provided they are at least 15 but not more than 30 years old on the day of the election; a resident in the barangay for at least six months on election day; and not disqualified by law.

For the barangay elections, one should be at least 18 years old on or before the day of elections; must be a resident of the Philippines for at least one year and in the barangay where he or she intends to vote, for at least six months immediately preceding the October 31 barangay elections; and not otherwise disqualified by law.

Bautista explained that registered voters who failed to vote in the last two consecutive elections should register again.

“A voter may vote two times if he or she is qualified to vote in the SK and barangay elections. The ballots for SK and barangay elections are separate but there is only one queue. We’re making a separate list for voters ages 15-30,” he said.

Bautista said he favors the postponement of the SK and barangay elections amid proposals from members of Congress on the holding of elections for delegates of the Constitution Convention (ConCon).

He noted in particular a resolution filed by Senate President Franklin Drilon pushing the elections for delegates to the ConCon in January 2017, adding that it will be best to hold the SK and barangay polls on the same date to save on expenses.

“But in the absence of any law postponing (SK and barangay elections), we are on,” the Comelec chief added. “Our preparation is ongoing in coordination with our senior and field Comelec officials.”