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How to Register as a Voter in the Philippines

Register to vote - Camella Manors

The 2022 Presidential Election is fast approaching, and it’s your right (and duty) as a responsible Filipino citizen to exercise your rights to vote and to elect the future leaders of our nation. And since the voter registration has been extended, you still have a chance to register as a voter by following these guidelines.

Voter registration is the process in which an eligible individual files a voter’s application before the election officer of his/her city or municipality, in order to participate in the upcoming local, congressional, and presidential & vice presidential elections.

Voter Registration Extended!

If you are in a locality that is not under community quarantine, you can register at your nearest COMELEC office as the deadline for the registration is extended until October 30 this year.

Registration officially resumed on September 1, 2020, amid the varying levels of community quarantine in the nation. The deadline for voter registration for the Philippine elections in 2022 originally scheduled to end by September 2021 has been extended from October 11-30 following the unanimous vote of the COMELEC En Banc.

The Comelec temporarily shortened the voter registration hours for March 22 until April 4, 2021, to observe the GCQ (General Community Quarantine) guidelines.

Comelec offices are currently open from Mondays to Thursdays, from 8 am to 3 pm. Within these hours, voters may submit their application to the Offices of the Election Officer (OEOs) nationwide.

Extended voter registration hours were previously implemented from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 8 am to 5 pm, and are expected to resume after the GCQ is lifted.

Check COMELEC’s official Facebook page for more updates.

In this thorough guide to voter registration in the Philippines during the Covid-19 pandemic, we lay out all of the processes and answer commonly asked questions.

The Philippine Presidential Election will be taking place in 2022, and as Filipinos, it is our duty and right to vote for the next leaders of the nation. If you not a duly registered voter yet, or if you are a newbie in your area, here are the steps on how to register as a voter as per Commission on Election (COMELEC) guidelines.

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WHO CAN REGISTER AS A VOTER?

You can register as a voter in the Philippines if you meet these qualifications:

  • A Filipino citizen who is not yet registered with COMELEC
  • At least 18 years old on or before the upcoming election
  • At least 15 years old but not older than 30 years old for Sanguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections.
  • Has lived in the Philippine city or municipality intended to vote for, at least six months before an election.

TO-DO BEFORE VOTER’S REGISTRATION

  1. Prepare COMELEC Requirements
    • At least 2 Valid ID’s with photocopies for each
      • Driver’s license
      • IBP ID
      • NBI clearance
      • Passport
      • Postal ID
      • PRC ID
      • PWD ID
      • School ID or library card
      • Senior Citizen ID
      • SSS/GSIS ID/UMID
      • Certificate of Confirmation from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
    • Original copy and photocopy of birth certificate for applicants turning 18 years old on the day of election.
    • Accomplished Voter’s Registration Form printed on long bond paper (8.5” x 13”)
    • Filled in Annex B – Supplementary Data Form (for PWDs, senior citizens with disabilities, indigenous people, illiterate applicants, those assisting such voters).
    • Filled in Coronavirus Self Declaration Form
  2. Book an Appointment with Your Local COMELEC Office
    As of today, you can only do walk-in appointments and applications so you may want to contact your local COMELEC office to set up an appointment, and come as early as possible to ensure that you will be accommodated within cut-off hours Be sure to follow COVID-19 safety protocols and wear proper PPE upon entering the COMELEC office or you will be asked to leave the premises. Bring your own black or blue ink pen as current policies do not allow publicly shared pens for COVID safety.

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HOW TO REGISTER AS A VOTER

  1. Head to your local COMELEC office on your appointment day with proper PPE and personal pen.
  2. Present your COMELEC registration requirements.
  3. Have your photo, biometrics, and signature captured.
  4. Take your acknowledgement receipt.

Be sure to register early to avoid hassle! The last thing you want is to wait in long queues because you decided to register last minute. For more information, you can contact COMELEC representatives at www.facebook.com/groups/AskCOMELEC.

Are you done with making an appointment?

All that’s left now is to wait for the day and complete the registration process. You should familiarize yourself with COMELEC’s safety protocols so you know what to expect when you arrive. Make a list of everything you’ll need to bring, including your forms, IDs, papers, a ballpen, a face mask and shield, alcohol or hand sanitizer, and a bottle of water.

The process of registering to vote varies from one municipal election office to the next, however, it usually proceeds like this:

  • Visitors inside the office premises are limited, so you may be waiting outside for some time and asked to fill out contact tracing forms.
  • When you get inside the office, an election officer will you review your application, and when deemed ready, asked you to affix your signature in front of them.
  • The election officer will then log your application into the digital Election Registration Board’s (ERB) system.
  • Your photo will be taken and your biometrics captured.
  • Lastly, there will be a stub provided by the COMELEC personnel, which serves as your acknowledgment receipt that indicates that you have applied for registration on this date in this election office. So make sure you keep it! Take note that this doesn’t necessarily mean you’re already approved and registered.

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