Today is the last day for new voters and other residents of Basilan (except Isabela City), Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan (except Cotabato City), Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi to register under Republic Act 8189 to be able to vote in the Aug. 11 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Some 150,000 new voters and others still unregistered are expected to be added to the list of registered voters in the six provinces comprising the ARMM.

As of the May 14, 2007 elections, the six provinces have the following number of registered voters: Basilan, 140,232; Sulu, 250,457; Shariff Kabunsuan, 198,330; Maguindanao, 337,044; and Lanao del Sur, 396,927.

Comelec officials assured that the election officers in all the towns in ARMM will be ready the whole day today for the heavy influx of late registrants and others who are still unregistered to list up for the Aug. 11 ARMMwide polls which will be fully automated.

The Comelec, now under the leadership of Chairman Jose A. R. Melo, said the registration of new voters will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the offices of election officers of the six provinces.

The EOs will use Data Capturing Machines (DCMs) in line with the policy to establish a clean, complete, permanent and updated list of voters through the adoption of a systematic registration process utilizing biometric technology.

Comelec officials said prospective registrants are required to bring with them any of the following identification documents when they register: current employees 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 or PNP Clearance, passport, SSS or GSIS ID.

In the absence of any of the identification documents, the applicant may be identified by any registered voter of the precinct, or by any of his relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinty or affinity.

Under Comelec en banc Resolution No. 8473 which was approved before Melo assumed his post, the EO shall conduct the registration from April 1 to 10 but upon the recommendation of the Provincial Election Supervisor (PES) with the concurrence of the Regional Election Director, when the situation warrants, the Commissioner-in-Charge of ARMM may designate a special action officer in a city or municipality of the region to assist the local EOs.

Comelec en banc Resolution 8427 provides that in the course of the registration process, a DCM or its peripherals become defective, the EO, through the PES, upon certification by an accredited technician shall immediately inform the Information Technology Department (ITD) and the Election and Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD) that the DCM and/or its peripherals are defective so remedial action could be promptly taken.

Resolution 8473 provides that any Filipino citizen residing in any of the six ARMM provinces may register as a voter provided he is at least 18 years of age on or before Aug. 11, 2008 and has resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place where he proposes to vote, for at least six months immediately preceding the Aug. 11 polls.

But those who have not reached the required age or period of residence on the day of registration but will possess such qualifications on or before Aug. 11 elections may register as voters.

The Comelec said applicants are required to personally appear before the EO, state his name and exact address specifying the house number, name of street, area, district, purok or sitio, and barangay where he resides, or brief description of his residence. 

Source: MB ONLINE

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