MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has made a concerning revelation, discovering more than 400,000 double or multiple registered voters for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) scheduled for October 30, 2023.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia disclosed that these instances of double or multiple registrations occurred between December 12, 2022, and January 31, 2023. The staggering number of double registrants poses significant challenges to the integrity of the electoral process.

Chairman Garcia expressed his hope that the assessment of the situation would be completed by the end of May. Additionally, he anticipates that the number of double or multiple-registered voters may reach 500,000. 

Since 2010, Comelec has implemented the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, which allows them to match the fingerprints of registrants with those of approximately 68 million registered voters nationwide.

As part of the voter list cleaning process, Garcia announced plans to convene with all election registration boards. 

“We would be issuing a directive to hold a special meeting of Election Registered Boards in the entire country so that we could weed out the (double/multiple registered) voters,” he stated.

Garcia emphasized Comelec’s commitment to exposing those responsible for fraudulent registrations. The commission aims to compile a comprehensive report detailing the locations and instances of double or multiple registrations.

“We are going to expose that. We are going to make a detail as to when or where all the places where there are double or multiple registrants,” Garcia said.

Earlier, Senator Imee Marcos called for a Senate investigation into the suspicious surge in voter registrants for the upcoming barangay and youth polls. The call for an investigation highlights the significance of addressing the issue promptly and maintaining the credibility of the electoral process.

Comelec previously stated its intention to release the voters’ list for the BSKE before August 1, enabling transparency and allowing concerned individuals to verify their registration status.

The discovery of over 400,000 double registrants underscores the need for robust measures to preserve the integrity of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. The Comelec remains committed to upholding the principles of democracy and ensuring fair representation through clean and credible elections.  – WhatALife!/Jayve

Source: (1)

---

Also read: State Universities and Colleges Seek Tuition, Miscellaneous Fee Increase