Knowing the continuing registration process for voters

By Marjorie Gorospe INQUIRER.net WITH the 2010 elections not so far ahead, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has initiated the registration of millions of voters. Apparently, not all Filipinos eligible to vote are familiar with the registration process. In light of this, we went to several Comelec offices in Metro Manila to find out the registration process. Even before you get to the Comelec offices to register, you need to remember the following: You should bring an acceptable identification card that shows name and address. It can be any of the following: postal ID, student ID, National Bureau of Investigation ID, passport, Tax Identification Numer ID, Social Security System ID, office ID, senior citizen ID. Rosalinda Radin, Manila Unit Comelec Coordinator, stressed that as long as the ID provides the holder’s address and name, it would be accepted as proof of your identity. Six months of residency in a certain place is required to become a qualified voter, Radin said. When you proceed to office of the Comelec, you will have to state your name before the election officer assistant or an official assigned to interview you. The interview will find out if you’re not registered in any other locality. They usually check this against the National Listing of Registered Voter (NLRV), especially if you are a new voter. If there are no conflicts, you will be given a white form to fill up. Comelec uses color-coded forms. A yellow form is given to those requiring reactivation of their registration as voter. This usually applies to those who have failed to vote for two consecutive regular elections. A blue form is given to those who require correction of entries like a change in their marital status. Finally, there is a green form for transferees or people moving from one area to another area to vote. These forms come in three copies. One will be given to the election officer, another kept as a copy of provincial (in the case of NCR, it will be given to the office of the director) office and another to the national central file in main office of Comelec in Intramuros, Manila. After filling in the necessary information, you will be asked to sign a log book as proof that you have registered. Then you proceed to the capture biometric information. This procedure requires the taking of photograph, fingerprints and signature electronically. Once you’ve completed the above procedures, you will be given a small portion of the form you have filled out as copy. You can leave the office with the thought that you’re now an eligible voter. According to Radin, a person’s registration can be challenged by election officials. But when the registration is over, the list of the names are later posted on a bulletin board. The continuing registration of voters has begun on December 2, 2008 and would last until December 15, 2009.