Following a Supreme Court decision nullifying its illegal reduction in the number of days allotted for new voter registration, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) today reopens its offices nationwide for those who wish to cast their votes in the 2010 national and local elections.

In a new order, the Comelec said voter registration will resume starting today, December 21st until the 23rd, and on December 28th and the 29th.

This is actually no extension. The Supreme Court said that the Comelec earlier erred in stopping new voter registration on October 31, 2009 and that under the law, it should continue until January 9, 2010 – or 120 days before the May 10, 2010 elections.

The Comelec also excluded in the new order any application for transfer of registration or for the reactivation and changes of entries in existing registration records.

It is arguable that new schedule announced by the Comelec again is a violation of the law and the Supreme Court order.

If the Comelec is truly interested in encouraging more Filipinos, especially first-time voters, to participate in the electoral process, the voter registration should properly be held until the midnight of January 9.

Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino, through counsel Atty. Julius Matibag, should look into this and study whether they need to rush before either the Supreme Court and the Comelec because the letter and spirit of the law and of the recent decision appear to be shortchanged again if we closely examine the new order issued by the poll body.

For now, we hope young Filipinos – especially those who will turn 18 on or before May 10, 2010 – would take time out and register. That is an essential first step for them to seize this chance to perhaps influence the course of history and to exert an influence on what could be a life-changing decision the electorate will take on Election Day.

Some essential links:

  • How to register
  • Voter Registration Forms: Page 1 and Page 2 for Election Registrar, Copy for Provincial File, Copy for Central File (Reminders about the forms: Print Page 1 and Page 2 for Election Registrar back to back on one sheet of paper, not on separate sheets. You may fill up all forms before going to the local Comelec office but remember that you must sign and put thumbmarks on them in front of the Comelec officer)
  • List of Comelec Offices

[Disclosure: The author is a “personage” of the Kabataan Partylist.]