IMG SOURCE: Summit Media

MANILA, Philippines -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) decided to extend voter registration hours however, they will not extend voter's registration for the 2022 Philippine elections beyond September 30, 2021, citing its calendar of activities and COVID-19 constraints.

"The En Banc – citing concerns about the timeline of preparations for the 2022 National and Local Elections, as well as significant continuing apprehensions about the health and safety of the public and of Comelec personnel – decided against extending the voter registration period beyond September 31, 2021,"

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez

"However, the en Banc also unanimously approved the extension of voter registration hours, as well as the opening of voter registration on Saturdays and holidays, for the remainder of the voter registration period," he added.

Both senate and congress have filed multiple resolutions calling for the extension of voter registration to at least October 31, citing various reasons, particularly the months of registration lost due to coronavirus-driven hard lockdowns.

They have also pointed out that the Philippine Statistics Authority's projected voting population for next year is 73.3 million. Comparing this to the current number of registered voters, they fear that 13.3 million people could be disenfranchised.