Setting Additional Days for Registration in Voting Centers

January 20, 1980

PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1664

SETTING ADDITIONAL DAYS FOR THE REGISTRATION OF QUALIFIED VOTERS IN THE VOTING CENTERS BEFORE THE CITIZENS' ELECTION COMMITTEE AND EXTENDING THE LAST DAY FOR THE REGISTRATION UNDER THE CONTINUING SYSTEMS WITH THE ELECTION REGISTRAR

WHEREAS, the Commission on Elections has reported the enthusiastic response of qualified voters to register in the voting center level registration held on January 19 and 20, 1980, especially from those who have newly qualified as voters; casia

WHEREAS, under Section 8 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 52, registration of voters conducted by election registrars under the continuing system and by the Citizens' Election Committees both ended on January 20, 1980, so that unless additional days for registration are provided, many qualified voters may not be able to participate in the election and plebiscite;

WHEREAS, the January 30, 1980 election for local officials will be the first to be held since 1971, there is need to maximize the registration of voters to assure that the results of the election and plebiscite will be truly reflective of the will of the people.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution, do hereby decree:

SECTION 1. Additional days for registration in voting centers. — Qualified voters who have not registered by January 20, 1980 may register in the voting centers with the Citizens' Election Committee on January 26 and 27, 1980, from seven o'clock in the morning up to six o'clock in the evening; Provided, however, that for purposes of this Decree, in cities, municipalities and municipal districts where the number of still unregistered voters may be listed under the continuing system of registration before the election registrar without resort to the registration in the voting centers, the Commission on Elections is authorized to order the use of the continuing system of registration only; Provided, further, that where there are still a large number of applicants for registration in the premises of the voting centers at the time of closing, the Citizens' Election Committee may extend registration beyond six o'clock in the evening until the persons therein present are registered.

SECTION 2. Voting Centers. — The registration of voters as provided in the preceding section shall be undertaken in the same voting centers and by the Citizens' Election Committees that functioned in the preceding election.

SECTION 3. Registration with the Election Registrar. — Notwithstanding the registration of voters in the voting centers as herein provided, the election registrar shall conduct the registration of voters daily until January 27, 1980 in accordance with the procedures provided in the 1978 Election Code. casia

SECTION 4. Rules and Regulations. — The Commission on Elections is hereby authorized to promulgate the rules and regulations to implement this Decree.

SECTION 5. Effectivity. — This Decree shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 20th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty.

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 76 No. 11 Page 1689 on March 17, 1980.

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 76 No. 44, 8231-4 Supp., on November 3, 1980.