Manila, Philippines: In a bold move to enhance the integrity of the electoral process, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia advocated for a comprehensive overhaul of the voter registration system post-2025 elections. He urged Congress to annul the entire list of registered voters and adopt new technology to improve voter identification.
The proposed annulment aims to reset the voter count and reassess the actual number of eligible Filipino voters, estimated currently at 68 million. This reset, Garcia suggests, would provide a fresh start for the 2028 electoral cycle. The Comelec is already utilizing an Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) to mitigate issues like double and multiple registrations. This system detected over 491,000 such cases prior to the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.
The move towards new technologies, according to Garcia, is aimed at ensuring transparency and better organization in the electoral system. He emphasized the need to assess the accuracy of current systems and integrate advanced technology like AFIS for more effective voter identification. This initiative is seen as a crucial step in addressing concerns of electoral fraud and ensuring the credibility of future elections in the Philippines.