Comelec reminds public: Voter registration ends on September 30

Chairman George Erwin Garcia INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has reminded the public that the poll body will not extend the voter registration deadline, which is set on September 30, 2024, to process the rest of the voter applications during the registration period.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said there are only six days left for those planning to register, transfer or reactivate their registration for the 2025 national and local elections.

“Ilang araw na lang, anim na araw na lang ay katapusan na po ng registration period up to September 30 at wala pong intensyon ang Comelec na mag extend ng registration period,” Garcia said on the sidelines of the inspection of printing machines at the National Printing Office.

(There are only a few days left, six days left until the end of the registration period up to September 30, and Comelec has no intention to extend the registration period.)

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“Kaya sa mga kababayan natin na hindi pa nagpaparehistro, magpapatransfer ng registration, bubuhayin o irereactivate ang kanilang registration o may babaguhin na kahit na anong datos sa kanilang registration, hanggang September 30 na lang po yan at yan din po ang period na matatapos ang registration sa mga kababayan natin abroad,” he added.

(To our fellow citizens who have not registered, transferred registration, reactivated, or updated their registrations, you only have until September 30 to do so. That is also the period where the registration for Filipinos abroad ends.)

The poll body will also need to process the voter registration from July 16 until September 30.

“Kailangan din po naming matapos kaagad ng September 30 dahil mayroon tayong hearing ng Election Registration Board sa October 13 upang aprubahan o disapprove ang mga nagparehistro mula July 16 hanggang September 30 at therefore kakailanganin namin matapos kaagad yung project of precinct na tinatawag,” Garcia noted.

(We also need to end the voter registration by September 30 because we have a hearing with the Election Registration Board on October 13 to approve or disapprove the registrations from July 16 until September 3. Therefore, we need to finish what we call the project of the precinct.)

According to Garcia, voter registration can be disqualified if under various grounds.

“Unang-una kapag may nag-oppose, lalong-lalo na kapag may nag-question sa kanyang application for registration, transfer of registration, o kaya naman wala siyang maipakitang valid ID, government-issued ID o kaya naman mapatunayan na ang ipinapakitang dokumento ay isang falsified document. O kaya naman yung nag-question o nag-oppose ay di pala siya residente doon sa lugar na yan,” he said.

(First of all, if there is opposition to questioning the application for registration, transfer of registration, or if they can’t show a valid or government-issued ID or if they are proven to submit a falsified document. Or if someone questions or opposes that they are not a resident of that place.)

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However, Garcia clarified that a registration can’t be disqualified if the registration was filed if the registrant has six months of residency prior to the elections and not six months before the registration.

Eligible voters can register at the office of the election officer or satellite registration office in their area from Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Applicants have to bring one of the following:

• PhilSys National ID card
• Postal ID card
• PWD ID card
• Student ID or library card signed by school authorities
• Senior citizen’s ID
• LTO driver’s license or student permit
• NBI clearance
• Philippine passport
• SSS/GSIS ID or any UMID card
• Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) license
• Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID
• Certificate of Confirmation from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) for ICCs or IPs members
• Barangay ID or certification with photo
• Other government-issued valid IDs