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Complete Guide to COMELEC Voter Registration for the 2023 Barangay and SK Elections in the Philippines

Getting ready to vote is the first step in making a difference in our country. By registering to vote, you can help choose the leaders who will make important decisions about our economy, how we relate to other countries, our health, and other important things that affect us all.

If you want to vote in the upcoming elections, you need to know the rules and process for registering with COMELEC in the Philippines. Once you’re registered, it’s also important to know how to check that your registration is valid and find out where you need to go to vote.

This guide will give you all the information you need to know about registering with COMELEC, checking your voter status, and other important things you need to do before the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. It’s important to be prepared so you can have a say in the decisions that affect your community.

Next Philippine Election:

Do you want to vote for the next scheduled election? The first thing that you need to do is to know when the next election will be.

When is the Next Election?
The next Philippine election is the Barangay and SK elections on October 30, 2023(Monday).

When is the Registration Schedule for this Election?

    • Start of Registration: December 12, 2022
    • End of Registration: January 31, 2023

When is the Next Presidential Election?
The Philippine Presidential Election is held every 6 years. The last one was in 2022. The next one will be on May 2028.

Philippine Voter Registration Eligibility:

Who can register as a voter in the Philippines?

The Philippine voter registration system is outlined in the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 or RA 8189. In this Republic Act, the following are listed as requirements for voter registration:

Eligibility Requirements for Regular Voters

    • Filipino citizen who has never registered with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
    • At least 18 years old on or before the upcoming elections
    • Living in the Philippines for at least one year
    • For barangay elections: Living in the barangay where they intend to vote for not less than six months prior to election day

Eligibility Requirements for Sangguniang Kabataan Voters

    • Filipino citizen who has never registered with the COMELEC
    • At least 15 but not older than 30 years old on or before the SK Elections
    • Living in the barangay for not less than six months prior to election day

Can OFWs vote in the Philippine elections?

OFWs who are not otherwise disqualified to vote in the Philippines may participate in the elections by registering as Overseas Voters.

The requirements above apply to all applicants. To register, all applicants must accomplish the Overseas Voter Registration Form (OVF1) and personally submit the form to the Consulate General of the Philippines in their respective country. They must present their Philippine Passport when submitting the requirements.

For more details about becoming an overseas voter, click here.

Philippine Voter Registration Requirements

To prepare for the registration, you first need to check the schedule of registration. We do our best to update the schedule of registration above. Check this section to know the registration period for the next election. 

  • COMELEC Office hours: 8 AM to 5 PM, No Noon-time break
  • COMELEC Office Days of Operation: Mondays to Saturdays, Including Holidays

Preparing the Requirements for Voter Registration

To register to vote, you must bring the following requirements to the local COMELEC Office:

  1. At least one valid ID with your Current Address
  2. Original and photocopy of NSO Birth Certificate (for applicants turning 18 years old)
  3. Filled-out Voter’s Registration Form (Download Revised-CEF 1 Form) printed in long bond paper
  4. Corona Virus Declaration Form

Important: Do not sign or put your thumbmark on the CEF 1 form. These should be added in the presence of the COMELEC officer.

IDs Accepted:

  • Barangay ID/Certification with photo
  • Company ID or Employee ID
  • Driver’s license
  • IBP ID
  • NBI clearance
  • National ID/PhilSys ID
  • Passport
  • Postal ID
  • PRC ID
  • PWD ID
  • Senior Citizen ID
  • SSS ID/GSIS ID/UMID
  • Student ID or library card signed by the school authority
  • Certificate of Confirmation from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
 

Philippine Voter Registration Process

The entire voter registration process happens in the COMELEC office or their satellite locations. The law requires that Philippine-based voter applicants register in person. Remember to take more than one valid ID and the filled-out CEF 1 form. 

1. Proceed to the Local COMELEC Office during the Registration Schedule

Bring the requirements listed above to your local COMELEC office. In most cases, this should be the regional or municipal COMELEC office. However, during national elections, the COMELEC may set up satellite offices in malls and Barangay centers to make the voting process easier for all Filipinos. 

Make sure that you go to the designated COMELEC office. This is based on your address. Also, make sure that you are registering in the locality where your address is located. The COMELEC officer may deny your registration if you apply in a location that does not match your ID.

If you are in the correct COMELEC office, the COMELEC personnel will ask you to sign your CEF-1 form and add your thumb impression. 

2. Submit the Voter Registration requirements listed above 

In the COMELEC Office, the officer will check your ID, address, and your CEF – 1 form. If your information is not yet in the system, they will enter your data based on the information you provided. They may ask some questions from you at this point to confirm some of the information you have provided.  

3. Biometrics collection

The modernized voter registration process requires that all applicants provide their digital biometrics. In this process, your photo and your fingerprints will be taken and stored in the database. 

First, the COMELEC personnel will take your photo. They will give you instructions during the process. You may want to check the photo before proceeding because this will be the image used in your Voter’s ID.

After having your photo taken, the next step is the collection of your fingerprints. This is done digitally. Again, the COMELEC personnel will instruct you on what to do. Follow their instructions to make the process quick. 

Lastly, you will be asked to provide your digital signature. This too will be used for your Voter’s ID. If you are not satisfied with your digital signature, you may opt to repeat it because this will be used in one of your official IDs.   

4. Keep your acknowledgment receipt

At the end of the process, the COMELEC officer will give you an acknowledgment receipt as proof that you have gone through the registration process. You may use this receipt in the future if you encounter issues with your registration. 

5. Check your voter registration status before the election

The COMELEC has a history of being sloppy with keeping names in the registration list. To protect your right to vote, check the COMELEC website first for your registration. You may do this with the COMELEC Precinct Finder. This is a webpage that the COMELEC sets up before each election. This will allow you to check your registration status before going to your precinct. However, if you find that your name is not on the list, you may find that there is nothing you can do to add your name to the list. 

COMELEC Precinct Finder Link