BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO

The voters’ registration for the May 2022 presidential and local elections was suspended yesterday by the Commission on Elections in Bacolod with the implementation of the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) in the city from Sept. 8 to 30.
Bacolod Comelec Registrar Jan Anthony Saril yesterday said that, based on their guidelines, once the local government declares MECQ, registration of voters will automatically be suspended.
Saril said they have closed their office since they will be under a work-from-home arrangement for the entire duration of the MECQ in Bacolod.
“If we return to General Community Quarantine (GCQ), automatically we will open, because pursuant to Comelec Resolution No. 10674, there is no need for action from Comelec Manila,” he said.
Despite the temporary closure of the Comelec Bacolod office, Saril said there is nothing to worry about since the registration is until Sept. 30, 2021.
He clarified that they do not accept Sangguniang Kabataan registration, but only regular voters.
They will only accept applicants who will be turning 18 by May 2022, Saril said.
From Sept. 1 to 8, they were able to process the registration of 2,029 applicants, he said.*