BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Commission on Election is targeting to register 400,000 new voters in Negros Occidental, before the election period starts October 1 this year, for the May 2022 synchronized national and local elections.
Provincial Comelec Supervisor Fatima Aspan reported yesterday that they have recorded 1,752,232 voters in Negros Occidental, including the 7,678 new registrants and 287,383 in Bacolod City. She said the figure is lower, compared to 1.8 million voters during the 2019 elections.
Aspan said they are targeting 2.2 million voters, an increase of 400,000, for next year’s elections.
While statistics on the registration of new voters are increasing because of the Comelec massive information drive, Aspan said they have to exert more efforts in the registration campaign.
There have been requests from Election Officers in towns and cities, as well as barangay captains, to conduct satellite registration in Covid-19 – free barangays.
Before allowing it, Aspan said they have to secure clearance from the City or Municipal Health Offices stating that the concerned barangay has been Covid-free for 14 days, prior to the conduct of the registration.
Aspan also announced that there will be a satellite registration of voters on March 20 for Bacolod City residents only at the Ayala Capitol Central Mall and City Mall in Kabankalan City, also for its residents.
The new voters are being required to present school identification cards for students, government issued ID, birth certificate, driver’s license, PRC or IBP IDs, passport or voter’s ID. Cedulas or barangay clearances will not be honored, she added.
The registration of voters will end Sept. 30, and the filing of certificates of candidacy by candidates in the May 9, 2022 elections will be from Oct. 1 to 8 this year.*