By CESAR JOLITO III

Long queues and a surge of last-minute applicants marked the final day of voter registration in Negros Occidental, as election offices across the province processed a total of 7,548 registrants on Monday, May 18.

Provincial elections supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said turnout was heaviest in major cities, where long lines were observed until the closing hours of registration, while municipalities recorded comparatively lower numbers of applicants.

Data from the Commission on Elections showed that Bacolod City posted the highest number of registrants with 1,236, significantly outpacing other local government units in the province.

Several key urban centers in northern and southern Negros also recorded strong voter registration turnout.

Silay City logged 408 applicants, followed by Bago City with 354, Talisay City with 334, Sagay City with 333, Kabankalan City with 330, and Himamaylan City with 306.

Other cities with more than 250 registrants included La Carlota City with 303, Cadiz City with 297, San Carlos City with 292, and Victorias City with 274.

Meanwhile, Isabela and La Castellana each processed 254 registrants, while Escalante City and Binalbagan both recorded 240 applicants.

Moderate turnout was noted in Murcia with 208 registrants, Hinigaran with 205, Cauayan with 195, Hinoba-an with 177, Moises Padilla with 154, Candoni with 153, Calatrava with 118, Pontevedra with 113, Sipalay City with 110, and E.B. Magalona with 101.

Smaller municipalities posted lower registration figures on the final day.

San Enrique processed 96 applicants, Don Salvador Benedicto had 93, and Toboso recorded 73.

The lowest number of processed applications came from Ilog with 68, Valladolid with 63, and Pulupandan with only 52 registrants.

Following the close of the registration period, local election offices across the province are set to begin the consolidation process and conduct Election Registration Board hearings to finalize the official voter lists for the upcoming elections./CJ, WDJ