Kabataan Party-list Representative Mong Palatino today slammed the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) announcement that they would not be printing additional ballots for the more than 250,000 new voters who registered during the extended voter registration period.
“Their announcement is clear-cut disenfranchisement. It virtually disregards the success and significance of the voter registration extension to thousands of youth and first-time voters. Binalewala lang ng Comelec, pinarehistro nga sila pero hindi naman sila makakaboto,” said Palatino.
December last year, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, approved the petition filed by Kabataan Party-list declaring illegal the shortened registration period and compelling the COMELEC to resume voters’ registration until January 9, 2010.
Palatino urged Comelec to re-think its decision and print additional ballots now lest they want to be accused of violation of the youth and the people’s right of suffrage.
“Non-printing of additional ballots would surely generate protests from new and first-time-voters. If the Comelec wants to be prevent this amid the present problems and hassles hounding poll automation, I suggest they resolve this issue ASAP,” said Palatino. ###
February 22nd, 2010 at 9:20 am
I really agree to what Cong. Mong did. The COMELEC should not neglect the efforts of those who registered during the late registration. Couple of students here in Bicol especially mentioned the Bicol University lives from a far provinces here in Legazpi, but then, they still went home though they have to waste money for their transportation expenses. Most of them still traveled to Catanduanes and Masbate which are Islands here in Bicol.
If the COMELEC would not print the additional ballot for the late registrants, then how can they vote?
Will they impose the law that only voters who vote on time will be prioritized to vote? Its very unreasonable.
If that’s so, then it’s just like they did not gave value to the Extended Registration conducted. Much better that they did not just approved the Extended Registration than doing these matters after.
I’m not a newly registered voter nor a registrant from a quite far place. In fact, this is my 2nd time to vote.
I am just expressing my concern to my fellows who spent time just to beat the extension time given to them. Huh!!!
Sana matauhan naman sila.