Comelec may pause voter registration
By J.Lo
"We check if person is real, if they are active and registered voter, and we will compare their signature with our records," Commission on Elections may have to temporarily pause its voter registration for 2025 midterm elections to allow its election officers to sift through signatures collected in People's Initiative seeking to change Charter.
Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said poll body has yet to begin its verification process of ongoing People's Initiative signature drive to change 1987 Constitution as signature pages need to be submitted and certified first.
But if People's Initiative campaign "pushes through," poll body could pause its voter registration to give way to verification of signatures as there is only one election officer per municipality and city, Laudiangco said.
Laudiangco said about 630 municipalities and cities nationwide have already submitted their signature pages supporting Charter change. "Our election officers in nearly all segments have received signature pages. This is spread out across country," Laudiangco said.
But Comelec officer explained there are still several steps before poll body can start verifying signatures.
After submission of signature pages, Comelec will certify these with total number of signatures collected, Laudiangco said.
Once those behind People's Initiative campaign submit petition, Laudiangco said, Comelec will assess whetherer signatures complies with requirement of having at least 12% of total registered voters in the country and each legislative district is represented by at least 3% of their registered voters.
Only after Comelec has approved petition can election officers proceed to verification, Laudiangco said.
While Laudiangco said Comelec will have to carry out all tasks under its mandate as part of its constitutional duty, voter registration process may need to be halted to allow each election officer to verify signatures.
Comelec official also said People's Initiative campaign comes just in time as poll body can cross-check signatures with information of those who will register as voters.
Minority lawmakers at House of Representatives have called on poll body to ensure authenticity of signatures collected in People's Initiative campaign amid allegations of widespread vote-buying.
Comelec is expecting three million new registered voters ahead of May 2025 midterm elections, bringing total number of registered voters to 71 million.
Voter registration for May 2025 midterms elections resumes on February 12.
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