STUDENTS from Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University criticized the Commission on Elections for rejecting calls to extend the voter registration period beyond September 30.

The Comelec agreed to extend the registration hours for voters but stood firm on its given deadline. It also said that local offices will be open on Saturdays and during holidays to serve more people.

However, 1Sambayan Lasalyano and Ateneans for 1Sambayanan stressed that an extra hour added to the registration time is not enough.

“The decision of COMELEC En Banc to reject the public’s appeal to extend the voter registration period is nothing short of reprehensible,” the coalition said in a statement.

“The supposed compromise to extend voter registration hours, as well as its facilitation on Saturdays and holidays, underestimates our context in the Covid19 pandemic,” it added.

It pointed out that voting “is an integral part of the democratic process” and depriving millions of potential voters the chance of deciding the country’s future “borders on suppression.”

“This act can impede the 2022 elections from truly reflecting the country’s choice, especially the youth,” the group said.

“We call upon COMELEC to extend voter registration for the sake of respecting the people’s will. We urge you to consider the restrictions that the pandemic has brought upon millions of Filipinos, and to make voting more accessible to everyone. You are an independent commission, mandated by the constitution, to uphold the people’s will,” it added.