You, the youth, play a big part in making the future of our nation better. And one of your roles is to vote in the upcoming elections on May 9, 2022. So register now and avoid the long queue or any hassle before the registration ends on Sept. 30, 2021.
Mind you, but you have less than six months or 175 days left to register. So make sure you meet the following requirements:
- You’re a Filipino citizen
- You’re at least 18 on or before the election day
- You have been a resident of the Philippines for at least one year, and a resident of the place in which you intend to vote for at least six months.
Registration is easy as counting 1-2-3 or reciting A-B-C, although you cannot do everything online because you have to go to the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) or local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office for other procedures like application review and biometrics.
For those residing in the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal—or the so-called NCR-plus—you may only do electronic filling for now until April 11, since voter registration is suspended in all OEOs due to the extended enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Online filling and booking.
Rather than doing walk-ins, we highly recommend you fill out the voter’s On-Line Application Form (OLAF) through the Comelec’s official website or iRehistro and book your appointment so you could get priority for your chosen date and time.
After filling out the OLAF, hit proceed, then check the automated download PDF file and print it. Make sure to follow the printing reminders:
- Use a long bond paper (8.5”x14”)
- Print the Personal Information page at the back of the CEF-1
- Make sure to print all pages clearly and completely, including the last page that contains the four QR codes and your appointment date
Important: Do not sign or affix your thumb mark on the printed for just yet. You must do that in the presence of an election officer.
On the reminders page, you’ll also be required to fill out the Coronavirus Self Declaration Form or Health Declaration Form (HDF).
Also take note that supplementary data form is provided for persons with disabilities (PWDs), members of indigenous peoples groups, and illiterate voters.
Then on your scheduled appointment at your local Comelec office, you must bring the following:
- Accomplished OLAF
- Accomplished HDF
- VALID IDs: Employee’s identification card (ID), with the signature of the employer or authorized representative; Postal ID; PWD Discount ID; Student's ID or library card, signed by the school authority; Senior Citizen's ID; Driver's license; NBI clearance; Passport; SSS/GSIS; Integrated Bar of the Philippine (IBP) ID; License issued by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC); Certificate of Confirmation issued by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in case of members of ICCs or IPs; and any valid IDs
- Photocopy of the Valid IDs
- Face mask, face shield, and alcohol or hand sanitizer
- Personal black ballpen and water to stay dehydrated
What to expect in your Comelec visit?
During your appointment, you need to follow all health protocols such as wearing a face mask and face shield, applying alcohol or hand sanitizer, and social distancing upon entering and inside the Comelec office.
You’ll be asked to submit all requirements to be reviewed by the election officer before you signed the OLAF and affix your thumbmarks in front of him/her.
Your application will be digitalized before logging it into the Election Registration Board’s (ERB) system.
You’ll also undergo biometric procedure where your photo and digital signature and fingerprints will be taken.
You’ll be given an acknowledgment receipt that you must keep, serving as proof that you have already registered. But the stub doesn’t mean that you have already been approved. In most cases, approval can take months. Also, you may be asked to come back with the receipt.
For those living outside NCR-plus and opted not to set an appointment, you may line up to register in your local Comelec office from Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. After April 11, visit the Comelec official website and Facebook page for further announcements on voter registration.
Definitely, your vote matters. So don’t hesitate to register and learn how you can vote wisely. For other queries, the Comelec provided a frequently asked questions page. You may also check We the Youth Vote Facebook Page to learn other information about the 2022 election.