Comelec eyes online reactivation of voter status this August

The over 6 million registered voters who have been deactivated need not personally visit the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office to apply for reactivation soon, an official said on Wednesday.

In a Facebook post, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said the online reactivation of voter registration will be made available this August.

“(Some) 6.3 million voters were deactivated but their biometrics are still in the database of the Commission on Elections, hence they need not apply for reactivation in person. Reactivation of voters who failed to vote in two consecutive elections will soon be through email this month,” Guanzon said.

Election-related activities, including voter registration and reactivation, are ongoing across the country, except in some areas that were placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ (MECQ) due to a surge in coronavirus cases.

Republic Act 8189 or the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 allows the poll body to remove from the list of voters those who failed to vote in two consecutive elections.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, those who would want to reactivate their voter registration would have to visit the local Comelec office.

In July, Guanzon reported that some 600,000 deactivated voters have registered again to be able to participate in next year’s elections.

The poll body is looking to have at least 60 million registered voters for next year’s national elections.

The nationwide voter registration will end on Sept. 30. (PNA)

Agencies