The Supreme Court extended the registration of voters to January 9, 2010. The Court granted the petition of Kabataan party-list led by Raymond Palatino to extend the registration period. According to him, illegally limiting the days of the registration period means disenfranchisement or “denying potential voters of their constitutional right to vote.” ( http://www.thepoc.net/breaking-news/politics/3281-sc-extends-voters-registration-.html)
As we all remember, a COMELEC resolution stated that the registration will end on October 31, 2009. The Kabataan party-list, however, submitted a petition for the extension and was successfully granted by the Supreme Court that the registration be extended to January 9, 2010. The decision, penned by Justice Conchita Carpio Morales, made the previous COMELEC resolution null and void.
Basing on Section 8 of RA 8189 , "The personal filing of application of registration of voters shall be conducted daily in the office of the Election Officer during regular office hours. No registration shall, however, be conducted during the period starting one hundred twenty (120) days before a regular election and ninety (90) days before a special election."
The Supreme Court's recent decision also stated that Comelec has no power to fix dates or deadlines for pre-election activities.
For all those who haven't registered yet for the 2010 elections, this is your chance to register and be a part in making a difference by exercising your right of suffrage!
Visit your respective COMELEC offices now and register! BE THE CHANGE!
Sources:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/12/15/09/supreme-court-extends-voters-registration
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/star/20091215/tph-sc-extends-voters-registration-541dfb4.html
