Comelec-Kalinga disseminates guidelines on registration of illiterates, disabled

By Peter A. Balocnit

Friday 25th of May 2012

TABUK CITY, Kalinga, May 25 (PIA) - - The Commission on Election (Comelec) here disseminated the guidelines on the registration of person with disability and illiterates to facilitate the conduct of registration for said sector.

OIC Provincial Election Supervisor Rogelio Bagtang said, "any illiterate or person with disability shall be assisted by the election officer in the preparation of his application form, or by any member of an accredited citizen’s arm. He may be likewise assisted by a relative within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity. However, by their absence, any person of his confidence who belongs to the household may take their place,” Bagtang said adding that all assistors must be of voting age.

But before assisting these group, the election officer has to place first the illiterate or person with disability under oath, after which the assistor asks the illiterate or person with disability relevant questions and record the answers given in order to accomplish properly the application form, Bagtang explained.

Once the application form is accomplished, he said, it has to be given to the election officer who shall read the accomplished form aloud to the applicant and ask him if the information given are true and correct.

In the presence of the election officer, the applicant affixes his thumb mark or some other customary mark on the duly accomplished form. “Likewise, the assistor accomplishes the attestation to be attached to the accomplished application form,” Bagtang said.

The Comelec is conducting offsite registration in strategic barangays under its continuing registration and to especially accommodate the registration of persons with disabilities.

Bagtang said they have 12 approved registration venues for the conduct of offsite registration in the the municipalities of Lubuagan, Rizal and Balbalan from the May to July 2012. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)