Comelec: Voter’s registration applications subject to screening

Commission on Elections. Inquirer file photo.

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday reminded voter registrants that their applications are not automatically approved during the voters’ registration period.

According to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, the applications will have to undergo screening and approval by the Election Registration Board.

“Just because you registered today does not mean that they are automatically registered voters. It does not work that way. Why? Because their applications must be screened first by the Election Registration Board,” Garcia answered in an interview when asked how the poll body can prevent the proliferation of “flying voters” during the registration period.

How can the voter registrants know that their applications are approved by the poll body? Garcia said it depends on whether they will receive a letter or a notice from their local Comelec offices.

READ: How to register as a voter for the 2025 BSKE

“If you did not receive a letter or a notice of objection from the local Comelec where you registered as a voter, it means that your registration is almost sure to be approved,” he answered.

“If you received a letter instructing you to go to the local Comelec where you registered, please do so because it means that someone questioned your application. Therefore, failure to abide by the order will grant the request of the opposition,” he added.

Garcia also mentioned that voter registrations can be opposed by anyone, particularly political parties, citizens’ arms, or aspiring election candidates until August 20, 2025. He noted that after the registration period, the names of the voter registrants will be posted by local Comelec offices.

“‘They can be tagged as flying voters or with double or multiple registrants where they are not residents of the place where they registered,” Garcia said.

The Comelec has set the voters’ registration period in time for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections from August 1 to August 10, 2025.

The poll body also conducts a Special Registration Anywhere Program (SRAP) in several areas in the National Capital Region from August 1 to August 7.

READ: LIST: Comelec’s Special Register Anywhere Program schedule

The poll body will accept the following applications:

• Registration
• Change of name and status
• Correction of entries
• Reactivation of registration records
• Inclusion of registration records and reinstatement of name in the list of voters
• Updating of records of Persons With Disabilities (PWD), senior citizens, and members of the indigenous peoples (IPs) and indigenous cultural communities (ICCs)
• Transfer from overseas to local only

Meanwhile, transfer of local registration records is not allowed during this registration period.

Comelec also said that anyone can bring at least one of the following government-issued IDs:

• National ID
• Postal ID
• PWD ID
• Student’s ID card of library card (with signature of school authority)
• Senior Citizen ID
• Driver’s license or student permit
• National Bureau of Investigation clearance
• Philippine passport
• Social Security System/Government Service Insurance System or Unified Multi-Purpose ID
• Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID
• Professional Regulatory Commission License
• Certificate of Confirmation from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples for members of ICCs and IPs
• Other government-issued valid IDs

Meanwhile, the Comelec noted that barangay certification or identification, community tax certificates (Cedula), Philippine National Police Clearance and company ID will not be accepted.  /mr