A non-partisan coalition has launched an effort to enlist seven million new voters ahead of the 2022 elections.
The Eleksyon 2022 Koalisyon includes former Comelec commissioners Augusto Lagman, Luie Tito Guia and former Comelec chairman Christian Monsod. Also, organizations such as the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas, and the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines.
The group is eyeing deactivated voters and new voters aged 18 by the time of the election period. The target is to enlist seven million new voters by September 2021.
As of March 2021, only 2.4 million have registered.
“This is a call for all Filipinos of all backgrounds to exercise their civic duty to register and to vote for the benefit of the collective,” the group said.
During the national election in 2019, a total of 46,343,423 voters, or a 74.89-percent voter turnout, was recorded by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“The 2022 national elections will determine the future of a country rebuilding itself after a global pandemic,” the group said.
To help address voter registration turnout, the Comelec has extended registration hours and the schedule of the registration period.
The national elections will be held on May 9, 2022.
Registration is open until September, Tuesdays to Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The registration process is found on the Comelec website. Anne Beatrice Lagman and Hannah Beatrisse Oledan