The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will resume nationwide voter registration on September 1, 2020, except for areas that are under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) or Modified ECQ.
According to the Commission of Elections Resolution No. 10764, voter registration will only resume in areas whose status is classified as either General Community Quarantine (GCQ) or Modified GCQ, or where the quarantine is lifted entirely.
The areas where voter registration is still suspended are areas classified under ECQ and MECQ. Any area with a milder quarantine status that is upgraded to either ECQ or MECQ will result in the automatic suspension of voter registration.
COMELEC Spokesperson James Jimenez reminds eligible voters that application forms can be downloaded online and can be filled up beforehand, but cannot be signed in advance. "Forms should be signed only in front of the Election Officer at the COMELEC office."
Applicants can deliver and sign their registration applications from Tuesday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Office of the Election Officer at your local COMELEC field office.
The COMELEC will also implement safety protocols during the registration, such as limiting the number of applicants allowed inside the government offices. The applicants are strictly required to practice physical distancing, wear face masks and face shields, and are encouraged to bring their own pens.
Jimenez says, "Registrants will also be required to fill out a 'Coronavirus Self-Declaration Form' which discloses information relating to travel, contact with people with known COVID-19 infection, and symptoms being experienced.
Persons exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 infection will not be allowed to enter the office and will be advised to seek medical assistance."
In addition to the safety protocols, all COMELEC offices nationwide will conduct a daily disinfection and decontamination routine of the area, voters registration machine, peripherals, furniture, equipment, and other frequently touched surfaces.
