San Jose de Buenavista—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has registered 13,457 new voters in the province of Antique from February 12 to May 28, with a significant number reached through off-site registration efforts.
According to Philippines News Agency, the registration drive includes efforts by municipal election officers (MEOs) across the province's 18 towns to facilitate access at various locations such as barangays, malls, and schools, in addition to their regular onsite services at municipal offices. The goal is to ensure all 590 barangays in the province are covered, especially targeting residents who face difficulties in visiting Comelec offices.
Villanueva also highlighted a special event, a voters' education and registration fair, to be held on June 4 at the University of Antique Main Campus in Sibalom. This fair will consolidate Comelec services from the 18 municipalities at a single venue for one day, aiming to assist faculty and students with registration services, such as new registrations, transfers, corrections of entry, and reactivations.
The fair is particularly targeted at helping students from remote areas, like those from the northern town of Libertad, who are unable to travel home to register. In addition to registration, the Comelec’s Education and Information Department will use this opportunity to educate attendees on the importance of voting and discuss other election-related topics.
After the fair, onsite registration will continue at municipal election offices, with ongoing satellite registrations planned until the deadline on September 30.