Comelec urges first-time Laoag City voters to register

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff Reporter

Laoag City—With the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections set on May 11, 2020, the Sangguniang Panlungsod here is urging all first-time voters in the city to register at the local Commission on Elections office.

The council passed a resolution in pursuant to Comelec Resolution No. 10549 which declared the registration period from August 1, 2019 to September 30, 2019.

For the barangay elections, new voters should be at least eighteen (18) years old and have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they will vote or at least six months of the preceding year. 

On the other hand, any Filipino Citizen who is not yet a registered voter but will be turning 15 years old on May 11, 2019 and residing in the Barangay for at least six months on or before the election can now register for the purpose of SK elections.

SK voters should be at least 15 years old on the date of the elections until 30 years old.

Based on the said Comelec Resolution, the registration period starts on August 1 to September 30, 2019; from Mondays to Saturdays including holidays from 8 am to 5 pm at the Comelec Office or any satellite offices.

Laoag elections officer Atty. Julius Balbas thanked the city council for passing the resolution as it helps them disseminate the continuing registration.

Mr. Balbas said his office will be accepting all types of applications including applications for registration, transfer of registration record, change/correction of entries, reactivation of registration record, inclusion of registration record and reinstatement of name in the list of voters.

Express lane for persons with disabilities, senior citizens and pregnant applicants will also be provided for their convenience.

Mr. Balbas likewise appealed to barangay officials to remind their constituents regarding the continuing registration and to come early to avoid the influx during the deadline.