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Everything You Need to Know About Registration of Voters in the Philippines


Today is the 1st day to register as a voter for the 2020 SK and Barangay Election here in the Philippines. So today I'm trying to "adult" by finally deciding to go to the COMELEC Office and register too (immediately after I finish this post).

Just kidding. I'm already registered years ago. I simply need to apply for a Transfer because my records and precinct number are all still based in the province.

And oh I need to apply for Reactivation of Registration too because I didn't vote for more than 2 elections straight (don't ask lol), so we're all gonna talk about the steps needed here.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. How to Register as Voter Here in the Philippines
II. COMELEC Transfer Registration Requirements
III. How to Change Voter's Registration Records in COMELEC After Getting Married
IV. How to Correct Any Errors in Voter's Registration Records
V. How to Get Voter's ID in the Philippines
VI. How to Check for Voter's Registration Records Online

The COMELEC Offices in Metro Manila and other Regions are now open for registration from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. (Monday - Saturday, including holidays) starting today, August 1 until September 30, 2019.

There will now be satellite registration available in some malls too (I don't know which malls yet -- will update this soon)! Edit 9/25/2019: COMELEC chose to open satellite registration booths in selected Robinson's Malls and Barangay Halls:



Barangay Halls (Regions 7, 10 and 11 are not available):



There's a possibility that the voter's registration might be extended to October, IF the May 2020 SK and Barangay Elections will be delayed. We'll see.
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I. How to Register as a Voter Here in the Philippines

Step 1

Basically, we just need to bring any one of the following (I'll bring 2 just in case):

  • Official IDs not issued by government with a photograph and signature
    • Employee ID with Company/Employer Signature 
    • Student ID with a signature from the school authority
  • Valid IDs issued by the government: Driver's License, PRC ID, Passport, UMID, NBI Clearance, Birth Certificate, etc. (EXCEPT: Police Clearance and Cedula. These 2 won't be honored.)

Step 2

You may download, print, and fill out this revised CEF-1 form beforehand so it's faster, but only fill out 3 copies of Part 1 and this part:


COMELEC Voters Application for Registration Philippines

Ignore other parts, especially Part 2 and bottom part of 2nd page. DO NOT sign and put thumbmark on them yet. We need to do that in the presence of the election officer in the nearest COMELEC office or satellite office in your area.

That's it. Pretty easy. So let's go!

Or not.

Make sure that you are a Filipino citizen and at least 18 years old by the time the next election comes (so if you're 17 years old now and going 18 this December, you can still register. If you're 16, then wait for 2022 election registration instead).

If you have registered before in SK elections, then no need to register again for Barangay elections.

If you're a foreigner or have Filipino parents but were born outside the Philippines, then you have to contact immigration and apply for Philippine citizenship first. You may also have to show proof that you lived here in the Philippines for at least 1 year, AND residing in the place or district where you plan to vote for at least 6 months before election day.

If you're Filipino but working abroad (OFW), you may still register as absentee voter. Just go or contact the nearest Philippine Embassy in the country you're in.

Step 3

After showing proof of identification and filling up the CEF-1 form above, as far as I remember, you'll be lining up next for the Biometrics Scan where they'll take a photo of you using a small webcam connected to their PC and scan your fingerprints. I don't know if they still do it now, but back then they also took my weight and height as well.

Voter's ID
Ugh, I look so dead inside lol. I can even see my acne even if it's black and white. So sad.

This ID is cursed. The VRM (Voter Registration Machine) Operator who took my Biometrics for this committed suicide the following day.

Ok sorry, too much useless information. Next step!

Step 4

Sign 3 copies of Part 2 and the bottom part of CEF-1's page 2 in the presence of the Elections Officer. Then wait until they give you the Acknowledgment Receipt part in the CEF-1 form which you need to keep and use later on when claiming your Voter's Certificate.

COMELEC Voters Acknowledgement Receipt


They used to give Voter's ID but since the National ID system will be implemented next month, they'll only give Voter's Certificate.


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II. COMELEC Transfer Registration Requirements

Bring any valid ID mentioned in Step 1 above with an address in the district you're registering in. It can be UMID, Postal ID, or NBI Clearance.

If the valid ID you have doesn't include an updated address or any address at all (i.e. Passport, Employer's ID, etc.), then you have to bring additional documents as proof of residence such as a billing statement under your name and Barangay Clearance

Then fill up 3 copies of Part 1 in CEF-1 form and this part (fill up the reactivation part too if you're like me who didn't vote for a long time lol):

COMELEC Voters Application for Transfer and Reactivation of Registration Philippines

Wait for the Elections Officer before filling up Part 2 and the bottom part of page 2, then get the Acknowledgement Receipt in Step 4 above before leaving the COMELEC Office.

III. How to Change Voter's Registration Records in COMELEC After Getting Married

Bring any valid ID mentioned above (plus proof of marriage, if maiden name is still used in IDs) to the nearest COMELEC Office in your area or satellite office you want, then fill up Part 1 of CEF-1 and this part:

COMELEC Voters Application for Change of Name due to Marriage

Sign Part 2 and the bottom part of page 2 in the presence of the Elections Officer, then wait to get the Acknowledgement Receipt in Step 4 above before leaving the COMELEC Office.

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IV. How to Correct Any Errors in Voter's Registration Records

If there's wrong spelling or other clerical errors (i.e. JR., III, etc.) in your name, you may go to the nearest COMELEC office in your area and request for correction by filling up 3 copies of Part 1 and this part of CEF-1:

COMELEC Voters Application for Change of Name due to Correction of Entries

Double-check that it's correct this time. Bring a valid ID too.

As with others, wait for the Elections Officer before filling out Part 2 and signing the bottom part of page 2. Then get the Acknowledgement Receipt before leaving.

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V. How to Get a Voter's ID in the Philippines

Since the Philippine government will be implementing the National ID system this coming September, COMELEC only issues Voter's Certificate and doesn't issue Voter's ID anymore.

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VI. How to Check for Voter's Registration Records Online

After the hacking incident by Anonymous Philippines back in 2016, this online feature isn't available anymore.

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How to Register as Voter in the Philippines


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