Avoid 'Last-minute' Habit: Comelec Urges Voters to Register Early

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia urged qualified voters to register early to avoid long queues and falling into the “last-minute" at registration centers, according to a report from The Manila Times today.

"To our countrymen, so that you won't have problems anymore, get tired and avoid the long lines, take advantage of registering early," Garcia was quoted as saying by the publication.

This was in response to the low number of registrants during the resumption of voters' registration, particularly among young voters who will participate in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections next year.

Garcia anticipates that the number of registrants will continue to rise over the next few days. The Comelec is confident they can accommodate the surge of registrants, especially during the last days of registration.

The registration period runs daily from Dec. 12, 2022, to Jan. 31, 2023, from 8 AM to 5 PM except for Sundays and on Dec. 24 and 31.

Meanwhile, overseas voter registration started on Dec. 9 across 92 Philippine posts, including the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan.