Negros Oriental provincial election supervisor Atty. Eddie Aba on Tuesday disclosed that the number of registered voters as of latest count has risen to an estimated 800,000.
This comes as the Commission on Elections in the Province, headed by Aba, continues with its campaign to ask voters to register for the upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan and Barangay Elections on October 29, this year.
Aba said in an interview that there will be no extension of the April 29 deadline for registration of voters.
Those aged 15 to 17 years old can now register for the Sangguniang Kabataan elections and they no longer need to register again once they reach the age of 18, when they are of voting age for the regular elections, Aba said.
Records at the Provincial Comelec Office show that a total of 799,002 voters were registered during the May 2016 elections.
As of August 2016, Comelec records show that a total of 806,625 voters have been listed in the Election Registration Board although this is not the final count yet as it still needs to go through a process such as a hearing and afterwards an approval.
Atty. Aba also said he is expecting about an increase of 10,000 or more registered voters this time.
In Dumaguete City, a satellite registration desk is set up at the Robinsons Place shopping mall, and will be open every day, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Sunday.
Those who did not vote in two previous consecutive elections are asked to register again with the Comelec.
The satellite booth at the mall is for registration of Dumaguete residents aged 15 and up, transfer of voting, record correction of entry, and reactivation, among others.
For the other cities and municipalities, registration is ongoing at the different Comelec offices, according to Atty. Aba.
Also, his office continues with its mobile registration especially in far-flung barangays. (JFP)
