December registrants should be allowed to vote

Kabataan Party-list urged the Commission on Elections to be prudent and end speculation over the extended voters’ registration.

“Comelec should avoid making speculations as this will only sow confusion among prospective first-time voters,” Kabataan Party-list Vice President Carl Marc Ramota said.

The youth group was reacting to recent statements made by some Comelec officials that December registrants might not be able to vote on May 2010.

“That is downright absurd and irresponsible. December registrants and those who registered before October 31 have the same right to suffrage. The time of registration should have no bearing on an individual’s basic right to vote,” Ramota pointed out.

“Comelec should instead lead the information drive and encourage more potential first-time voters to register,” he added.

Ramota also called on Comelec confirm and immediately act on reports of non-compliance of some Comelec offices to resume registration and address the problem of lack of registration forms.

Meanwhile, Ramota also questioned Comelec’s decision to shorten the actual voters’ registration to December 29, 2009. Under Comelec Resolution no. 8719, the poll body only allotted five days, December 21 to 23 and December 28 to 29 for the actual registration.  The remaining days were set aside to hear oppositions to applications for registration.

“We do not know how Comelec interpreted the Supreme Court ruling but decision is very clear, January 9, 2010 should be the last day of actual voters’ registration, not December 29, 2009. Cutting the actual voters’ registration by more than one week could mean disenfranchising one million prospective first-time voters,” he said.

Reference:
Carl Marc L. Ramota
Kabataan Party-list Executive Vice President
09194138288