The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said the voter turnout in Eleksyon 2022 could be as high as 80% despite challenges brought by the COVID-19 health crisis.

"Historically, mataas ang (voter turnout) presidential elections. For presidential elections, around 80% ang mag turnout," Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said in an interview with GTV's Balitanghali, when asked if more Filipinos will exercise their right of suffrage even during the pandemic.

(Voter turnout is high during presidential elections. It could be around 80%.)

"Let's see how pandemic will assess it... 'Wag masyadong maging optimistic sa turnout but again ang estimate natin is roughly 80%," he said.

(Let's not be too optimistic but our estimate is roughly 80%.)

As of Sept. 30, Jimenez said voter registrants are at more than 62 million but they expect these numbers to go up as registration deadline was extended until the end of October.

On screening the lodged certificate of candidacy, the poll body's spokesman said they are still collecting COCs from other provinces.

The filing of COCs ended on October 8 while substitution for a candidate can be filed until Nov. 15.--Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News