Despite the risk of contracting coronavirus disease (Covid-19), a huge number of new voters here flocked to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office to enlist last month.

Lawyer Karla Jerrera, Comelec-Tabaco City, Officer-in-Charge (OIC), in an interview on Wednesday said the number of new voters who registered was higher than they expected amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are expecting a lower turnout for September because of Covid-19, or at least five registrations per day or no registration at all but it’s different from what we’ve recorded. Every day we have a new voter’s registration, with a minimum of 7-10 registrants per day and most are young applicants,” she added.

Asked for the reason for a higher turnout, Jerrera said “probably they are now aware, particularly the youth of their right of suffrage. Also the different activities of our office in voter’s education, information dissemination campaign for past years helped to let the people understand the importance of voter’s registration”.

She said 309 of the 521 applications for registration for September were those of young Albayanos.

“These are the applicants who will turn 18 years old on May 9, 2022,” Jerrera said, adding that some are in their early 20s.

She also said they are expecting more applications since the registration is until September 2021.

“We are encouraging them to register now, habang hindi pa pila-pila ang nagpaparehistro (while lines of registrants are still short) but we are very strict with the health policy being implemented. No face shield, no face mask, no registration, as to keep the safety of the voters and our personnel,” Jerrera added.

She said their office is open for registration from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Saturday. (PNA)