UPDATED: Voter’s registration has been extended! The deadline is now on October 30, 2021. Hurry and register to make your vote count!

Good leaders, good governance, and good people. Like a well-oiled machine, you need capable people to keep the country up and running. And with the ongoing pandemic (and possibly its aftermath) that has shaken up the world, we now, more than ever, need to choose efficient and effective leaders to lead the Philippines.

With just a few days left to register for the 2022 Philippine presidential election, time is ticking. In fact, the House passed Senate Bill no. 2408—a straightforward bill on extending the deadline for registration. And in a unanimous decision by 23 out of 24 senators, it has officially been extended.

Need a refresher course? Here’s what you need to prepare before heading over to the nearest Comelec office:

Checking Your Eligibility to Vote

Before anything else, you need to check if you are even eligible to vote. First and foremost, you need to be a Filipino citizen—one who is at least 18 years old, on or before the election day itself on May 9, 2022. Next, you need to be a resident of the Philippines for at least one year. What’s more, you need to be a resident for at least 6 months in the place where you want to vote.

Booking an Appointment

In most cases, the Comelec office is in your city hall. When in doubt, you can check their official website or Facebook page, which will usually have a booking system for appointments. Alternately, you can check their specific office hours and give them a call to check. This usually varies across locations.

Do take note that government offices usually have high volumes of requests and limited space, so you need to book appointments at least a week in advance.

Filling out Comelec Forms at Home

Most of the preparation starts at home, especially given the ongoing pandemic. This is highly recommended so that all you need to do when you visit the Comelec office is to sign and affix your thumbprint. Proper social distancing, and all.

Once you confirm your appointment, the next step is to print and fill out the necessary Comelec forms. You can find the official Comelec forms here. Aside from the CEF-1, you will also need to fill up a Coronavirus Self Declaration Form. Additionally, there are supplementary data forms for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and indigenous peoples.

Remember to leave the signature portion blank! You’ll need to sign that in front of the electoral officer.

Photocopying Your Valid ID

Just like every other application, you will need to present a valid ID. For your voter’s registration, you will need to submit a copy of at least one of these 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 ID
• 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
• Any other valid ID

Registering to Vote

Before heading over to your nearest Comelec office, these are the things you need to bring with you:

• Accomplished forms (CEF-1, Coronavirus Self-declaration Form, and supplementary data forms, if applicable)
• Valid ID and a photocopy of your valid ID
• Your own ballpen
• Face mask and face shield
• Alcohol or hand sanitizer
• Water (because you will need to stay hydrated!)

While some procedures may vary, depending on where you will be registering, most of them follow the same guidelines. Before even entering the office, you may need to fill out a contact tracing form. Remember to have your own ballpen ready, since some places do not provide pens.

The Registration Process

Once you’re in, you may need to queue. But when it’s your turn, everything should be smooth sailing, as you’ve done most of the preparations at home.

Firstly, an electoral officer will review your application. If everything on the form is correct, he or she will have you sign it in front of him or her. Next, your application will be encoded into the Election Registration Board’s (ERB) system. Once done, you will have to have your photo, digital signature, and biometrics taken.

And that’s it! After everything is done, the Comelec personnel will detach, date, and stamp your acknowledgment receipt. Make sure to keep this properly, as it serves as proof that you have applied to vote. Do note that as of writing, the Comelec will not be issuing Voter’s IDs in anticipation of a unified, national identification system. Thus, during the 2022 elections, you will present your receipt—all the more reason why you need to keep it safe.

Given the ever-changing guidelines and restrictions in the pandemic, it’s best to start early. Remember to exercise your right to vote!

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