(PNA Bacolod file photo)
BACOLOD CITY – Some 47,287 residents of Negros Occidental, including this capital city, have been registered as new voters, according to data of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) here on Monday.
The continuing registration for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) this coming Oct. 30 is set to end on Tuesday.
Provincial Election Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said Monday the number of applicants decreased this week probably because almost all who are interested have already been listed.
“But we’re still preparing for the last day scenario on Jan. 31,” he told reporters.
In Negros Occidental, Ananoria said they expect to register up to 50,000 new voters, which would be “good enough.”
Of the total accepted applicants since Dec. 12, a total of 11,640 are 15 to 17-year-olds, who will vote for the new set of SK officials.
“We have been conducting satellite registration in schools. We encourage the youth to register,” Ananoria said.
Of the 47,287 total registrants, more than 12,000 have been registered here.
Ananoria called on Negrenses who are willing to participate in the October polls to get registered until Tuesday.
“If you will register now, you can also participate in the 2025 mid-term elections,” he added.
Last week, the Comelec said preparations for the upcoming polls are expected to be completed in May.
The preparations started last year since the election was originally scheduled in December before it was postponed to 2023, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said.
In October last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., signed into law the measure postponing the Dec. 5, 2022 BSKE to Oct. 30 this year. (PNA)
