Comelec Eyes Extension of Voter Registration in Areas Affected by Typhoon ‘Lando’

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is studying the possibility of extending the voter registration period in areas affected by typhoon “Lando”.

“Given typhoon ‘Lando’, we will look into it and we will see whether it merits a special extension only for regions that were affected… We are looking into that possibility of extending only for these regions,” said Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista in a press briefing on Tuesday.

He noted that there were some local Comelec offices that suspended voter registrations due to the storm.

“We are talking about Regions 1, 2, and 3. The state of their offices before ‘Lando’, they are already in a bad state e. Baka nga after ‘Lando’ baka nga mas matindi,” Bautista added.

The poll body chief said they would be asking feedback from their Regional Election Directors (REDs) in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon regarding the need to extend voter registration.

He said that they were not considering of extending the registration for the rest of the country.

“At the moment, there is no plan to extend,” Bautista added.

Several areas in North and Central Luzon felt the onslaught of typhoon “Lando” after it made landfall in Aurora with many areas left flooded last Saturday.

The ongoing nationwide registration is set to end on Oct. 31. (PNA) RMA/FGP/EDS