By CESAR JOLITO III

Voter registration in the Negros Island Region (NIR) will be temporarily suspended from December 24, 2025 to January 4, 2026, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced.

“Registration at all Comelec offices will end on December 23. After the holiday break, we will resume processing voter applications starting January 5,” Comelec-NIR Director Lionel Marco Castillano said.

He also reminded voters that updates to voter information, including transfers of registration, will only be accommodated when offices reopen.

Comelec offices will again begin accepting applications from new and returning voters.

Comelec-NIR records show that a total of 52,375 voter registrations were processed in the region from October 20 to December 20.

Of these, 35,538 were in Negros Occidental, 16,076 in Negros Oriental, and 761 in Siquijor.

Castillano called on the youth — especially those turning 15 years old on or before November 2, 2026 — to maximize available days, particularly Saturdays, to avoid long lines as the registration period progresses.

The age requirement applies to Sangguniang Kabataan voters.

He also encouraged schools and institutions to coordinate with Comelec for off-site registration, which remains open for scheduling.

This aims to make the registration process more accessible to students and young first-time voters./CJ, WDJ