MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Tuesday, December 16, that there will be no voters’ registration over the Christmas holidays.

The poll body said that voters’ registration and validation of biometrics for the 2016 national elections will be suspended from December 21, 2014 to January 4, 2015, pursuant to Comelec Resolution 9853 issued in February.

The suspension was made “in observance of the holiday season, and in order to provide Comelec personnel nationwide ample time to prepare for the scheduled Election Registration Board (ERB) hearings,” said Comelec spokeperson James Jimenez in a statement.

Voter’s registration will resume on Monday, January 5, 2015, and will last until October 31.

In a phone interview with Rappler, Jimenez said the Comelec continues to reach out to around 5 million existing voters who still have incomplete biometrics data.

Pursuant to Republic Act 10367, all registered voters are required to undergo biometrics registration (photograph, fingerprints, and digital signatures) to be able to vote in the 2016 polls. (READ: Comelec launches online voters’ registration for 2016 polls)

Jimenez also said that the poll body expects 56 million total registered voters for the 2016 elections – or around 3 million new voters – from 53.8 million voters in 2013. – Rappler.com