The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday that this Wednesday’s voter registration is not only for the barangay elections this Oct. 25 but also for succeeding elections.

“I had to clarify something. While it’s true that the barangay election will be the next immediate election, this registration should not be called for the barangay only because this is for your voting privilege in your whole lifetime,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said in an interview.

“When you say that its registration for barangay, a lot of people think it’s for barangay elections only and that they need to register in the next elections. We are trying to fix that misconception…if you don’t want to vote for the barangay, then don’t, but do register for you to be able to vote in the next elections,” he said.

The registration, Jimenez said, will be held in all Offices of the Election Officer (OEOs) of the district/city/municipality where the applicant resides every day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Identification documents that will be recognized include current office, postal, student, senior citizen, SSS/GSIS, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, as well as NBI clearance, driver’s license, passport, and Professional Regulation Commission license.

The 10-day registration period will start on Wednesday, August 4, until Aug. 13, 2010.

To recall, the Comelec earlier set the registration period for the barangay elections from Aug. 1 to 10, 2010. However, because of the need for more time in training its field personnel on the improved Data Capturing Machines (DCMs) which the poll body will employ in the registration process, the Comelec has reset the registration period for the barangay elections to Aug. 4 to 13, 2010.

“There is a need to reset the registration period from Aug. 1 to 10, 2010 to Aug. 4 to 13, 2010 in order to provide sufficient time for the conduct of training of field personnel who will employ the Data Capturing Machine with improved program and the deployment and installation of the DCMs and other related peripherals in the field offices,” read Comelec Resolution no. 9007 dated July 24, 2010.

Registration period, however, for the Sangguniang Kabataan elections is scheduled from Aug. 6 to 15, 2010.

Meanwhile, special elections in Bulacan, Lanao del Sur and Basilan have been moved to Oct. 2 from Sept. 12, 2010.

The Comelec moved the special polls in these provinces in order to give them more time to prepare.

“Our preparation has started… This time set would allow us to prepare for the special elections both in the systematic and human aspects,” Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said.