Exercise your Right to Vote, Register Now!
Democracy Watch supports the resumption of voters’ registration in areas under general community quarantine. It lauds the efforts of the Commission on Elections to observe the necessary health protocols while making sure that this democratic process continues. The COMELEC also stressed that they are continuing to sanitize their offices, a good reminder that we can still take the necessary precautions to be safe without sacrificing this electoral essential. Even in a pandemic, democracy can and will go on.
The present set up is voter registration that runs from Mondays to Fridays, 8 am to 5pm. Democracy Watch remains hopeful that this will mean accommodating more potential voters. This can also help prevent overcrowding as there are more possible days and hours for one to file their application, unlike earlier in the year when there were lesser time periods to do so given the surge in COVID cases. Now that the country’s situation is more stable, the slow but sure and safe reopening of services like voter registration is a welcome development.
Registering to vote is one of the first steps in preparing for free and fair elections. It paves the way for Filipinos to exercise their right to suffrage and choose their leaders. With around 58.9 million official voters in the country so far, there are still many unregistered but eligible citizens. Democracy Watch calls on these Filipinos to participate in democracy and register to vote — there is still time to take part in what will be a historic event next year.
Democracy must go on.