Good news for students and workers.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) today announced that the ongoing voter’s registration will be extended on Saturdays and Holidays in order to accommodate the students and busy workers.

The poll body has resolved to amend certain portions of COMELEC Resolution No. 8514, promulgated November 12, 2008, which provided the rules and regulations governing the resumption of the system of continuing registration of voters nationwide, excluding the ARMM.

Among the portions amended in the said resolution, the COMELEC said, are Sections 4 which outlined the date, time and places of filing of applications, hearing and approval; and Section 6 which provided that persons who have not yet reached the required voting age or period of residence but will posses the same on or before the day of the elections may only register starting May 12, 2009.

COMELEC Resolution 8585, promulgated February 12, 2009, said that “there are compelling reasons for the amendments being sought in order for the Commission to accomplish the pre-election activities in pursuit of its mandate to conduct clean, honest, orderly, peaceful, and credible May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections.”

“There is a public clamor to open registration during Saturday to accommodate the youth-students and the busy workers, who have no time to register during the weekdays,” the COMELEC en banc said.

The COMELEC also recognized the need to encourage wider voter participation and to recognize the youth’s important role in nation building.

“As they (the youth) will comprise the majority of the first time registrants, the Commission deemed it best to lift the afore-cited time limitation in Secs. 6 and to provide additional registration days and holidays falling on weekdays, except Holy Thursday and Good Friday on April 9 and 10, 2009,” the COMELEC ruled. ###

Posted: 06.15.2009 LTO, Updated: 01.20.2012 JJSH