What to do upon receipt of Comelec summons regarding voter application

MANILA, Philippines — Have you received a summons from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding your voter application?

Here’s what you need to know and do. 

As the Comelec wrapped up its voters’ registration drive for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, it noted that the process does not end for some registrations. 

The Comelec explained that its Election Registration Board (ERB) issues summons to voter registrants as there are oppositions to their application.

Hence, the ERB needs to hear the respondent’s side in the petition. 

READ: Comelec encourages aspiring voters to register early

Other details in the summons include a copy of the petition filed against you and the date of the hearing.

The ERB advised those who received a summons to attend the hearing and submit evidence that you are a qualified voter in your area (such as valid IDs, and proof of residency)

“Sa pamamagitan ng ERB hearing, tinitiyak ang due process at ang iyong karapatang sagutin ang anumang oposisyon sa iyong aplikasyon bilang botante,” Comelec said in an advisory. 

(The ERB hearing ensures due process and your right to answer any opposition to your application as a voter.)

 In a separate post, the Comelec said that the ERB is composed of the election officer as the chairperson, and the highest official of a public school and the local civil registrar as its members.

It noted that an individual can’t be a member of the ERB if they are related to an incumbent official up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity.

Meanwhile, the poll body said that those who are planning to oppose the membership of one of the members of the ERB must file the petition within 10 days from the first day of the hearing of the Provincial Election Supervisor or Regional Election Director if they’re from Metro Manila, Davao City, Zamboanga City, or Isabela City.

They need to attach proof of service to the challenged member.

According to the Comelec Resolution 11191, the poll body sets July 20, 2026, as the last day to file a petition for exclusion of voters, as stated under Section 35 of Republic Act 8189 or the Voters Registration Act, in line with the Electoral Reforms Act. 

The said provision states that: “Any registered voter, representative of a political party or the Election Officer, may file with the court a sworn petition for the exclusion of a voter from the permanent list of voters giving the name, address and the precinct of the challenged voter at any time except one hundred (100) days prior to a regular election or sixty-five (65) days before a special election.”

READ: Early voter registration cutoff sparks complaints

It added that the petition “shall be accompanied by proof of notice to the Board and to the challenged voter and shall be decided within ten (10) days from its filing. 

The Comelec received a total of 5,470,889 voter applications from October 20, 2025 to May 18, 2026. Of this figure, Region IV-A logged the highest number of registrations with 887,677. 

Despite the overwhelming turnout of interested voters on the last day of registration, the poll body earlier said that it will not extend the registration drive.

However, it said that the process will resume in February 2027 just in time for the 2028 national elections.  /gsg