The extended registration period for first-time voters will certainly lead to the re-clustering of polling precincts in the province, said acting provincial election supervisor for Negros Oriental, Eddie Aba.

As of last count, before the extension of voting registrants, the final approved list of the total number of registered voters in the province had reached 714,761.

The approved and final Project of Precincts then also showed a total of 1,030 clustered precincts in the 534 voting centers province-wide.

But, with the ongoing five-day extension on Dec. 21, 22, 23, 28 and 29, the Comelec will have to reconstruct the number of clustered precincts and the final list of voters, Aba said.

Aba lamented that the Comelec will have to go through the same tedious process again of having to post a list of the new applicants, and submit the same to the Election Regulatory Board for hearing and approval.

But he, however, could not give an estimate of the turn out of new applicants as few had appeared at the Comelec offices in the first two days of the extended registration.

Aba had earlier said that he is personally against the extension of voters' registration, but added that they have to follow the Supreme Court ruling.

“We have to slug it out. This is public service and we have no choice,” Aba said.

He clarified that only new applicants who have not voted in their entire life will be accommodated during the extension period.

Aba said he hopes that new registrants will not wait until the last day before filing their applications.*JFP

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