The Commission on Elections (Comelec) extended voter registration by two hours in its offices nationwide in a bid to register more voters ahead of the May 2022 elections.

The extended hours will be implemented starting Tuesday, February 16, with Comelec offices open to receive voter registration applications from 8 am to 5 pm, Tuesdays till Saturdays. Offices will also be open during holidays. 

Previously, Comelec offices were open for voter registration only up to 3 pm.

The poll body said offices will be closed for disinfection every Monday instead of Friday. Disinfection will be carried out on top of daily measures against COVID-19.

If Comelec offices are located in local government units that have their own scheduled disinfection during the workweek, poll offices are directed to implement both disinfections called for by the poll body and local government. 

The extended hours come after the Comelec opened its offices for an additional registration day on Saturdays.

The Comelec is targeting to register at least 4 million new voters for the 2022 elections, though the poll body’s spokesperson James Jimenez said only some 1.3 million new voters were registered as of early February. 

Voter registration started in September 2020 but was affected by a 5-month suspension due to the pandemic. Registration will end on September 30, 2021. – Rappler.com