𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦: “Your Vote Matters: COMELEC Registration for Voters is now open” by Isabel Diaz

Layout by: Samantha Olazo

Published by: Louise Tupaz

Date published: March 01, 2024

Time published: 1:00 PM

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) registration for voters in the 2025 national and local elections has started, from February 12 until September 30, 2024, where registration takes place every Monday to Saturday, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As part of the registration process, COMELEC rolled out a program called “Register Anywhere Program (RAP),” wherein registration sites will be set up in malls, universities, government offices, selected church organizations, or selected private establishments in all cities, towns, and highly urbanized cities nationwide.

RAP venues not only accept new registrations but will also handle the transfer of registrations overseas to local transfer, register to vote back home, correction of entries, change of status, and reactivation.

To register, Filipinos may go to the office of the election officer (OEO) or visit their local satellite registration location. Registrants must fill out a copy of the application form available at the OEO and the COMELEC website. They must also present one of the following government-issued identity cards (IDs) with the registrant's signature, but company IDs are now prohibited.

The registration would be free of charge. The voter’s certificate may serve as a temporary voter’s official ID card after a request by the voter, it is valid until one year of issuance [4].

Registration from March 28 to March 30, 2024, is closed for the observance of Holy Week and on some dates declared by the COMELEC.

COMELEC is expecting at least three million new voters for the upcoming 2025 national and local elections.

REFERENCES:

[1] Locus, S. (2024, January 10). Voter registration to start on February 12, 2024 —Comelec. GMA News Online. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/893750/voter-registration-to-start-on-february-12-2024-comelec/story/

[2] GMA News. (2024, January 10). Comelec targets 3M new voters for 2025 national and local polls. GMA News Online. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/893718/comelec-targets-3m-new-voters-for-2025-national-and-local-polls/story/

[3] Sicat, A. (2024, January 23). PIA. https://pia.gov.ph/features/2024/01/23/you-can-now-register-anywhere-your-guide-to-comelecs-nationwide-voter-registration

[4] Patinio, F. (2024, February 2) Voter’s certification free of charge starting Feb. 12. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1218156

IMAGE SOURCE:

Strangio, S. (2022, May 9). Marcos on the brink of victory as Filipinos vote in presidential election. The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific Current Affairs Magazine. https://thediplomat.com/2022/05/marcos-on-the-brink-of-victory-as-filipinos-vote-in-presidential-election/