IF you’re currently in Metro Manila but still want to vote in your provincial hometown, you could register as a voter in any of five Metro Manila malls as part of the Commission on Elections’ Register Anywhere project.
Under the project, the Comelec will allow people whose hometowns are in other regions to register as a voter there even while they are in Metro Manila, according to the poll body’s spokesperson Rex Laudiangco.
Previously, only residents of the locality where the mall is located were allowed to register in these sites.
The pilot run of the Register Anywhere project will be from December 17 to January 22 and will be held every Saturday and Sunday in five malls: SM Mall of Asia, SM Fairview, SM Southmall, Robinsons Galleria and Robinsons Place Manila.
“Napakaganda po kasi nito para sa ating mga mag-aaral, nagtatrabaho sa Metro Manila na walang pagkakataong umuwi sa kani-kanilang probinsiya; pati na rin po iyong mga paalis, mga mag-o-OFW, pati na rin po iyong mga seaman, ito po ay bukas ang pinto ng COMELEC para sila ay makapagparehistro,” Laudiangco said at the Laging Handa briefing.
The Comelec would take the applicants’ photo, thumb print, and other biometrics, and send these to the local government where they want to register, said Laudiangco.
“Siguraduhin po namin na makakasama kayo doon sa deliberation ng Election Registration Board hearing,” he said.
He said the Comelec would only accept new registrants and those who would transfer their registration for the Register Anywhere project.
Change or correction of entries must be done in the actual local government concerned, he said.
The Register Anywhere is on top of the regular voter registration that will resume on December 12 and will end on January 31.
