The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it is confident that its target of 10,000 voter registration will be listed before the deadline on September 30.

Lawyer John Paul Martin, City Election Officer, in an interview on Thursday said Comelec En Banc has extended the office hours of the poll body from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday to Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Holidays.

“We are confident that we will be able to hit the target with the average 200 clients per day,” he said.

As of end of July, Comelec-Baguio has listed 4,744 additional voters who have registered since the registration was opened last year, but was stalled due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

He said they have the whole August registration data to include in the accomplishment aside from the September data.

Martin said in September, they will be having an offsite registration in one of the big malls in the city to bring the registration to the public.

Several off-site registration activities are also set this September as an initiative to reach the public.
Baguio has 150,000 voters, lower than the 164,125 registered voters during the midterm election in 2019.

Martin said they also have a voter’s education campaign, voters registration assistance in barangays, as well as making the registration forms available at the election office and in the 128 barangay halls.

He said they hope to get all eligible voters to register for the 2022 elections.

They also target for registration previous voters who have been delisted for non-exercise of their right to suffrage in two elections. (PNA)