(SPOT.ph) With several months lost to lockdown, there was public clamor to extend voters' registration for the Philippine general election on May 9, 2022. The deadline was initially set for September 30, and malls and satellite registration sites saw ridiculously long lines day after day in the last couple of weeks, with some starting to queue before dawn. Finally on September 29, Commission on Elections Chairman Sheriff Abas told CNN Philippines that voters' registration is formally extended from October 9 to 31. However, these dates were changed from October 11 to 30 in a final announcement by  Commission on Elections Spokesperson James Jimenez later in the day.
Also read: Everything You Need to Know If You're Registering to Vote at the Last Minute
The extension is from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday registration is open only on the last day, October 30. Registration of overseas voters is extended from October 1 to 14.Â
"COMELEC directors were not in favor of voter registration extension. But after discussing, en banc will 'more likely' approve the extension. We will formalize today the declaration for the extension," Abas said in an interview with Pinky Webb.
Jimenez also advised registrants to download their forms (CEF-1) from the website to expedite the process. You should also bring a valid ID (original and photocopy) and pen.
As of September 11, more than 63 million Filipinos are registered to vote.
UPDATED (September 29, 4 p.m.): This article has been edited following COMELEC spokesperson James Jimenez' announcement that extension is from October 11 to 30; and not from October 9 to 31 as initially announced by COMELEC chairperson Sheriff Abas.
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