New voters
PROJECTIONS that the country’s registered voters will reach 71 million in 2025 provide a major challenge for the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
As part of its preparations for the holding of two elections next year, the poll body is conducting a seven-month voter registration, starting Monday, February 12.
The nation’s electorate goes to the polls anew on May 12, 2025 and December 2025 for the national and barangay-Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, respectively.
Note that the country’s last presidential, congressional and local ballotings, with more than 68 million registered voters, were held just on May 9, 2022.
This year’s seven-month voter registration period ends September 30, while the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2025 polls is October 2024.
Comelec offices and satellite registration centers across the country are open from Monday to Saturday, except on holidays.
A Filipino who is at least 18 years of age on election day, a resident of the Philippines for at least a year and in the place where he/she proposes to vote at least six months before election day, can register as a voter.
During the registration period, the Comelec will implement its “Register Anywhere Program,” drawing cheers from the public.
The poll body expects to register an additional three million more voters.
Without doubt, registering more voters for the May 12, 2025 political exercise is a move in the right direction.
