Manila, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announces today that first time voters are now allowed to use EXPRESS LANE in the registration centers in line with October 28, 2013 Barangay Elections.
COMELEC promulgated Resolution No. 9750, providing supplemental guidelines on the reception of applications for registration.
In the Resolution, the COMELEC ruled to allow registrants who are 18 years old on or before the October 28, 2013 Barangay Elections to queue in the EXPRESS LANE for Elderly, Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and Heavily Pregnant Applicants.
"It is essential to provide an opportunity for first-time voters - who are 18 years old on or before the October 28, 2013 Barangay Elections - to be able to register as voters and to participate in the said elections," the COMELEC said in the Resolution.
The COMELEC observed, however, that the huge influx of registrants at the Offices of the Election Officers are not first time voters, but registered voters who desire to apply for the transfer of their registrations to other Barangays, municipalities or cities.
The poll body also noted that some applicants secure PNP Clearances solely for the purpose of having a valid document as proof of their identity to have their applications for registration/transfer accepted.
Thus, in order to "maximize the participation of first time voters, in accordance with the primary purpose of the system of the continuing registration of voters, and in order that only applications for registration of those identities have been truly established are accepted," the COMELEC also ruled to exclude PNP Clearance from the list of valid documents as proof of identity.
Listed below are the identification documents that are being honored by COMELEC:
Nationwide voters’ registration for Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Barangay elections started July 22, 2013 and will run until July 31, 2013. COMELEC Offices nationwide will be open July 27 (Saturday) and July 28 (Sunday) to accommodate registrants.
COMELEC promulgated Resolution No. 9750, providing supplemental guidelines on the reception of applications for registration.
In the Resolution, the COMELEC ruled to allow registrants who are 18 years old on or before the October 28, 2013 Barangay Elections to queue in the EXPRESS LANE for Elderly, Persons with Disabilities (PWD) and Heavily Pregnant Applicants.
"It is essential to provide an opportunity for first-time voters - who are 18 years old on or before the October 28, 2013 Barangay Elections - to be able to register as voters and to participate in the said elections," the COMELEC said in the Resolution.
The COMELEC observed, however, that the huge influx of registrants at the Offices of the Election Officers are not first time voters, but registered voters who desire to apply for the transfer of their registrations to other Barangays, municipalities or cities.
The poll body also noted that some applicants secure PNP Clearances solely for the purpose of having a valid document as proof of their identity to have their applications for registration/transfer accepted.
Thus, in order to "maximize the participation of first time voters, in accordance with the primary purpose of the system of the continuing registration of voters, and in order that only applications for registration of those identities have been truly established are accepted," the COMELEC also ruled to exclude PNP Clearance from the list of valid documents as proof of identity.
Listed below are the identification documents that are being honored by COMELEC:
- Current employee's ID, with the signature of the employer or authorized representative;
- Postal ID;
- Student's ID or library card, signed by the school authority;
- Senior Citizen's ID;
- Driver's license;
- NBI clearance;
- Passport;
- SSS or GSIS ID;
- Integrated Bar of the Philippine (IBP) ID;
- License issued by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) and;
- Any other valid ID
Nationwide voters’ registration for Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and Barangay elections started July 22, 2013 and will run until July 31, 2013. COMELEC Offices nationwide will be open July 27 (Saturday) and July 28 (Sunday) to accommodate registrants.
