Amid the ongoing pandemic, the local Commissions on Elections (COMELEC) still managed to log 4,321 new voters despite frequent lockdowns and the suspension of voter registration. This brings the number of registered voters in the City of Malolos to a total of 117,256 since the 2019 Philippine general election. 

 

Some voters’ logs have also been deleted over the past few months. According to data from COMELEC Malolos City, Bulacan, Region III, 71 were removed due to deaths, 32 due to transferring out, and the remaining 23 due to double registrations.

 

“Because nagtatanggal din kami ng mga patay ang meron ‘ding mga botante na nagtransfer from Malolos to other cities and municipalities — we actually deleted 126 records. So as of the last hearing of the Election Registration Board, ang registered voters natin presently ay 112, 935,” Atty. Julio Nicanor Guinto, Election Officer at COMELEC Malolos said.

 

Atty. Guinto also stated that the COMELEC initially closed its doors to the public when President Duterte announced the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) therefore suspending Voter’s ID Registration but immediately opened after the lockdown was lifted last May 17.

 

“Walang registration online because we have to get the biometrics of the voter. They have to be here personally so we can take their pictures, their fingerprints. Importante ‘yun dahil minsan may nagkakaroon ng double registration, we can actually detect [if there are double registrations] yung tao,” he said.

 

In regards to the voter registration process, he then added that they can get their forms online through the COMELEC’s official websites. Other than that, however, people will still need to register at their main office. 

 

“Ang advice ko — hangga’t maaga pa ay magpa register na sila. We need to vote kasi yun yung boses ng tao,” Atty. Guinto stated. “So kailangan natin maghalal na leader ng bayan na sa tingin natin na pwedeng mag-rise ng issues. And how do we do that? By voting.”

 

He ended the interview by advising people to register as early as possible and appoint a good leader through voting. Meanwhile, people can still register for a Voter’s ID from now until September 30 this year.