The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has noted an increase in the number of applicants beating the last day of the voter registration for the midterm national and local elections.
Acting Assistant Regional Election Supervisor and concurrent Antique Provincial Election Supervisor IV Wil Arceño said in an interview that election offices in 17 municipalities and the mall registration at San Jose de Buenavista have been crowded by last-minute registrants since yesterday morning.
“We expect an additional of about 1,000 individuals who would beat the last day of registration today [Monday],” Arceño said.
He said the province has 392,201 registered voters for the forthcoming election as of September 28.
Further, 12,308 are waiting for the approval of their registration when the Election Registration Board (ERB) convenes on October 14.
Applications on the last day of registration will join the list that will undergo approval by the ERB.
San Jose de Buenavista election officer Johnna Catilo said they have registered around 124 individuals since they started registration at Robinsons Place.
“Previous days, there were only about 30 people who came to register,” she said.
One applicant, Oliver Gaitan, said he took time to apply for the transfer of his voter registration because they transferred their residence from Barangay Mojon to Barangay San Pedro in San Jose de Buenavista.
“I want to cast my vote in our new barangay,” he said.
Meanwhile, Regional Election Supervisor Dennis Ausan said the 18 municipalities of the province are all ready to receive certificates of candidacy starting Tuesday, October 1.
“There will also be the filing of COCs in the malls, and it will depend on the election officers as to how many of the candidates’ supporters will be allowed to accompany them,” Ausan said.
In Antique, Robinsons Place will be the venue for the filing of COC for those running for lone district representative, governor, vice governor, and provincial board member positions.
Re-electionist Representative Antonio Agapito Legarda will be accompanied by Senator Loren Legarda when he files his COC on Tuesday after an early morning mass. (PNA)