COMELEC-Aklan Prepares for May 7, Elections

The provincial office of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Kalibo, Aklan is now busy preparing for the conduct of the May 2007 elections.
As in other provinces, COMELEC-Aklan is continuously doing the registration of voters. According to Ms. Lorena Tumbagahan, COMELEC Kalibo Head and concurrently the Officer-in-Charge of Aklan Provincial COMELEC Office, voter’s registration would end on Dec. 31, 2006.
Tumbagahan emphasized that "the media is considered as partners of COMELEC as far as election activities are concerned."
Tumbagahan appealed for the help of the local media in disseminating the information on the termination of voters’ registration on December 31. She revealed COMELEC Aklan has only one data capturing machine and her office might be deluged with last-minute registrants on the last day.
"We can only accommodate a limited number of registrants in a day and the applicants are to be subjected to demographic and biorhythmic capturing process which is different and time-consuming unlike the old procedure. We also call on our young people, those who are now 18 years old including those who would be turning 18 on or before the May 14, 2007 elections to register at COMELEC now," Tumbagahan stressed.
"We encourage our young people to register now so they would be able to exercise their constitutional right to help the government by voting and selecting the right candidates to govern our country," she said.
Tumbagahan distributed copies of Resolution No. 7707 which contains the Calendar of Activities and periods of prohibited acts in connection with the May 14, 2007 synchronized national and local elections.
Election period for next year’s electoral exercise starts on Jan. 14, 2007 and will end on June 13, 2007.
According to COMELEC, the schedule of activities until the May 14, 2007 elections are:
1.October 31, 2006 – last day to file application for transfer of overseas registration record from post to the Philippine city or municipality;
2.November 21, 2006 – last day of hearing of applications for registration/certification as overseas absentee voter;
3.December 15, 2006 – last day to prepare National Registry of overseas absentee voters;
4.December 29, 2006 – filing of petitions for inclusion of registration record of overseas absentee voters;
5.December 3, 2006 – last day to file application for registration, transfer of registration record;
6.January 12, 2007 – last day to hear application for registration, transfer of registration records;
7.January 14, 2007 – last day to prepare the certified list of overseas absentee voters;
8.January 14 – June 13, 2007 – election period
9.January 15 – February 12, 2007 – period to file certificate of candidacy for senators;
10.January 15 – March 29, 2007 – period to file certificate of candidacy for local elective positins;
11.January 28, 2007 – last day to file petition for inclusion of qualified voters in the local registry;
12.February 2, 2007 – last day to file petition for exclusion of qualified voters in the local registry;
13.February 13, 2007 – posting of the certified list of voters;
14.February 13 – May 12, 2007 – campaign period for senators and political parties, organizations or coalitions participating under the party – list system of election;
15.February 28, 2007 – last day to appoint members of the Board of Election Inspectors;
16.March 15, 2007 – issuance and sending of notices of inspection and verification of completeness of VRRs for each precinct book of voters;
17.March 30, 2007 – Inspection, verification and sealing of precinct book of voters;
18.March 30, 2007 – campaign period for candidates for members, House of Representatives, and elective provincial, city and municipal offices. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com