Voter registration reopens on Dec. 12

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has moved the resumption of the voter registration period from December 9 to December 12, according to a report by Philippine News Agency.

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco, in a phone interview Tuesday, said the voter sign-up activities will run until Jan. 31, 2023.

"This is to allow more time to prepare for the Register Anywhere Program (RAP) after the initial internal demonstration. We had committed to conducting a public simulation on it," Laudiangco added.

The resumption of the registration period will feature the pilot test of the RAP in five malls in Metro Manila.

On the other hand, Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia said other institutions have expressed interest to participate in the initial test of the project.

"The Comelec is now getting in touch with the House of Representatives, the Senate, and, possibly, at our Bicol region and Eastern Visayas regional offices," he said in a statement.

Those who would like to register as voters have to proceed to the RAP booths to submit the required documents, have their oaths administered, and have their biometrics data captured, even if they are residing in another city or municipality.

The documents and biometrics data will be endorsed and transmitted by the recipient RAP teams to the Office of the Election Officer of the district/city/municipality having jurisdiction over the residence of the applicant.

The poll body will release the dates, as well as the participating malls for the activity.