Manila, July 14 -- The Commission on Elections in the Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) is expecting a low voter turnout during the registration period from Aug. 1 to 10 for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-NIR regional election director, told the Philippine News Agency on Monday that this is a usual pattern, particularly following the conduct of the national and local elections last May.

"We are expecting only about a 5 percent increase or even less in the number of registrants as the Comelec has also excluded the transfer of voters this time," Castillano said.

Only first-time voters (aged 18), those between 15 to 17 years old (for SK officials), and individuals who faile...