COMELEC Warns: No biometrics, No vote

Iloilo City (PIA6) – – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Tuesday reminded voters of the consequences awaiting those who fail to have their biometrics taken in time for the May 2016 elections.

Election Officer G.Bert Arbis of COMELEC Oton said under Republic Act 10367 or the Mandatory Biometrics Voter Registration Act of 2013, voters who fail to submit for validation on or before the last day of filing of applications for registration purposes of the May 2016 elections shall be deactivated from the voter’s list.

The last day for the voter’s registration is on October 31, 2015.

Arbis noted that there are still many voters who have not validated their registration or submitted themselves to the Commission’s biometrics system and stand to be removed from the voter’s list and will not be allowed to vote in the May 2016 elections.

In Oton, he said, out of the more than 41,000 registered voters, around 1,500 have yet to register their biometrics data which include their automated identification such as photograph, fingerprint, and signature.

Arbis said efforts were undertaken to inform these voters to register their biometrics at the COMELEC office such as sending them individual’s notices.

“We sent them notices not only once, but this is the third time that we will notify them again,” said Arbis.

Aside from registration of new voters, validation is also one of the reasons why COMELEC conducts satellite registrations in the different barangays of the municipalities on Saturdays and in highly urbanized cities on Sundays.

The problem, according to Arbis, sometimes the voter concerned is not also around during the satellite registration.

Other reasons cited why voters failed to register their biometrics are transfer of residency, old age and some are already bedridden.

Arbis said they are now accepting registration for seventeen years old who will turn eighteen on or election-day which is on May 9, 2016. All they have to do is visit the COMELEC office and bring their birth certificate and school ID. (JCM/LAF/PIA-Iloilo)