An election watchdog on Saturday urged anew Filipinos to register to be able to vote in the May 2022 national and local elections.

Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) national vice chairman Bro. Johnny Cardenas made the call with only 47 days to go before the Sept. 30 deadline of the nationwide voter registration by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

He believed that it is vital for every Filipino to actively participate in next year’s polls and specifically called on 18-year-old youths and those removed from the voter list to register.

“We call on those who have not yet registered, the deadline set for us to have the opportunity to register is near, you know our role as Filipinos is important that we should participate, actively participate in the coming elections,” he said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas.

Republic Act 8189 or the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 allows the poll body to remove from the list of voters those who failed to vote in two consecutive elections.

Cardenas said the elections will determine the next president and vice president of the country where the restructuring and initiation of new plans and policies for the next generation are expected.

“The role of the youth is important, let us also help in encouraging the participation of all,” he added.

Latest Comelec data revealed the number of registered voters for next year’s polls has reached 60.1 million.

Of the number, more than 58 million are existing registered voters, more than 1.2 million are new registrants, while more than 800,000 are first-time voters and will be turning 18 years old before the elections.

The latest data from the poll body also showed there are some 6.3 million delisted voters.

Several lawmakers have urged the Comelec to extend the voter registration until October 31, as sign-up activities are suspended in areas under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ (MECQ). (PNA)