Calabarzon still top vote-rich region

POLL UPDATES. Margaret Joyce Cortez (right), assistant regional director of the Commission on Elections-Calabarzon, guests at the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum in Biñan City, Laguna on Friday (Nov. 8, 2024). She said Calabarzon logged 9,761,170 voters, the highest number among all 17 regions in the country. (PNA photo by Zen Trinidad)

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna — The Calabarzon Region gained 1,990,992 new registered voters from February to September 30 this year, bringing the total voter count to 9,761,170.

The significant increase reinforced Region 4-A’s position as the country’s top vote-rich region, according to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Assistant Regional Director Margaret Joyce Cortez.

Cortez shared poll updates on Friday during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum in Biñan City, Laguna.

She said Region 3 (Central Luzon) follows Calabarzon with 7,733,454 registered voters, while on third spot is the National Capital Region (NCR) with 7,581,734 voters.

Election data for 2022 showed Calabarzon was also on top with 9,193,095 voters while NCR was second at 7,322,361. Central Luzon was third with 7,289,791 registered voters.

Cortez said the surge in registration makes Calabarzon one of the most influential voting regions in the country.

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Cavite has 2,460,981 registered voters across 16 municipalities and seven cities, covering eight congressional districts; Laguna 2,150,051 registered voters in 24 municipalities and six cities, with six congressional districts; Batangas 1,968,785 registered voters across 31 municipalities and three cities, with six congressional districts; Rizal 1,681,529 registered voters in 13 municipalities and one city, comprising six congressional districts; and Quezon 1,502,824 registered voters across 39 municipalities and two cities, with four congressional districts.

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Cortez said 75 (61 males and 14 females) are competing for seats in 31 congressional districts.

In the race for the five gubernatorial positions, 28 candidates are running, while 22 are contesting for five vice gubernatorial posts.

To ensure transparency and integrity in the upcoming elections, Cortez said Comelec plans to conduct a voter education caravan.

The initiative will introduce voters to the new automated counting machines and provide hands-on demonstrations.

“We are going to demonstrate the actual voting process using the new machines in every barangay (village) in the region,” she said.