Comelec sets November 30 deadline for filing of candidacy for 2010 elections

Manila (March 8) -- Attention would be candidates in the 2010 elections! The deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2010 elections has been moved to November 30, 2009.

The decision to impose an earlier deadline was decided by the Commission on Elections in order to give the poll body enough time to print ballots and other related elections paraphernalia.

Although the filing of the certificate of candidacy has been set to an earlier date, the campaign period for the 2010 election still remains the same. Candidates for national posts could only start their campaign 90 days before the May 10 elections.

Earlier, Comelec moved the deadline for registration of voters to October 31 this year, instead of the usual December 15 deadline to accommodate the preparations for the full automation of the May 2010 polls.

Comelec resolved to move back the voters' registration deadline to October 31 from December 15 in order to give the commission more time to prepare for the full automation of the 2010 elections.

Despite the earlier deadline for registration, voters will be given more opportunities to register after the commission also ruled to open registration on Saturdays and holidays, mainly to encourage students and workers to register.

Meanwhile, Comelec Chairman Jose Melo announced on March 5, the full automation of the 2010 elections. He said that the Comelec has been given the go signal to start the process of bidding for the automated electoral machines.

Thus, Comelec is focusing on the bidding for the optical mark reader (OMR) machines that will be used in the 2010 elections.

Once the OMR technology is in place, winners will be known after only three days, the poll official said. (PIA