The Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Carmen, Cebu, is taking steps to provide a “next level” experience for new voters by offering prizes such as household items, food, and educational supplies. Election Officer Omar Mamalinta stated that they aim to go the “extra mile” for registrants as the voter registration for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) begins.
“Their vote is important since the people have the power to [elect] the best official for the barangay and the youth,” Mamalinta emphasized in Cebuano.
Carmen is one of many areas resuming voter registration today. Comelec-Central Visayas director Francisco Pobe noted that they are targeting a 2 to 3 percent increase in the number of registrants.
“We just had our elections, so practically our voters are already accounted for, except for those who just turned 18,” Pobe explained.
Additionally, registered Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) voters who have turned 18 will automatically be migrated to regular voters.
The registration period from August 1 to 10 will focus solely on new registrants, corrections of entries, and reactivations, with no local transfers allowed.
Pobe also mentioned that their satellite registrations will be effective, with Cebu City and other cities conducting registrations at malls. “We want to reach the youth because the election is intended for them,” he added.
Cebu has over 3.4 million registered voters based on the May 2022 elections, making it the most vote-rich province in the Philippines.
