Register to Vote

BE A REGISTERED VOTER this coming 2010 Elections. Registration forms will be distributed from 12-16 January 2009 at SJ or Miguel Walk.

Also, you may download registration forms (CEF-1A) here.

Print the application form and accomplish in three (3) copies, to be signed and thumbmarked only in the presence of the EO.

Date, Time and Place of Filing

Applications for registration, transfer of registration records, reactivation and changes/corrections of entries in the registration records/inclusion of registration records/reinstatement of name in the list of voters, shall be personally filed on the following dates:

02 January 2009 - 31 March 2009
01 April 2009 - 30 June 2009
01 October 2009 - 15 December 2009

at the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) of the district/city/municipality where the applicant resides from Monday to Friday, during regular office hours at 8:00 o’clock a.m. to 5:00 o’clock p.m.

Are you qualified to vote?

If you are a Filipino citizen who is:

• At least eighteen (18) years of age;
• A resident of the Philippines for at least one (1) year and in the place wherein he proposes to vote for at least six (6) months on or before the day of the election; and
• Not otherwise disqualified by law.

then you are qualified to vote for the coming elections. If, however, you have not yet reached the required voting age or the period of residence on the day of registration but will possess the same on or before the day of election (May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections) then you may register as a voter. Be reminded though that he applications for this people shall be filed not earlier than May 12, 2009.

You are disqualified if:

• you have been sentenced by final judgment to suffer imprisonment of not less than one (1) year, such disability not having been removed by plenary pardon or amnesty;
• you have been been djudged by final judgment of a competent court or tribunal of having committed any crime involving disloyalty to the duly constituted government, such as rebellion, sedition, violation of the firearms laws, or any crime against national security;
• you are insane or incompetent as declared by competent authority unless subsequently declared by proper authority that such person is no longer insane or incompetent.

What should you bring?

You should present original and photocopy of any of the following current identification documents which bears your current address, photograph and signature:

1. Employee’s identification card (ID) with the signature of the employer or authorized representative;
2. Postal ID;
3. Student’s ID or library card, signed by the school authority;
4. Senior Citizen’s ID;
5. Driver’s license;
6. NBI/PNP clearance;
7. Passport;
8. SSS/GSIS ID;
9. Integrated Bar of the Philippine (IBP) ID;
10. License issued by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC); and
11. Any other valid ID.

I personally prefer the NBI Clearance (this is what I used) because it already states your current address, no more questions, instant verification. Totally hassle free. If in case the document you presented bears no place of current residence, you shall present a copy of proof of billing i.e. Meralco, Maynilad etc. Community Tax Certificates (cedula) or certifications/identification cards issued by barangay officials shall not be honored as valid identification documents.

If you don't have any of these identification documents, you may be identified under oath by any registered voter of the precinct, or by any of your relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity who are registered voters of the same city/municipality. (Momma I need you! haha). If you can't be identified by any of these means, then you shall not be given the application form or in case of downloaded forms, the form will not be accepted.

What should you expect during application?
(this is based on my experience a week ago, 05 January 2009)

Expect long lines (specially if you come in late like me, duhh). That's what you get for not coming early. Anyway, The application has four steps: Verification, Interview, Biometrics and Schedule.

STEP ONE
For verification, you shall present your documents to the officer, he/she will ask you some questions and then he/she'll put a stamp on it. Wait for your name to be called and voila you have your application form with a date on it when you shall return for the next step (this depends on the district I think). Being a non-obedient citizen, I proceeded to the next step right away.

STEP TWO
Longer lines (at least in District 2 of Quezon City). For the interview, you shall present your accomplished application form together with the verified identification to the officer, he/she will ask you some questions, check for missing information, have you sign the forms and he/she will sign on it and take it You then shall wait for your name to be called (again).

The return date didn't really matter. I think they're just doing it for crowd control. The later you come, the longer the lines.

STEP THREE
Biometrics. They'll transfer all the information from the submitted forms to the computer, take your electronic thumbmark and forefingermark 3 or 4 times (I lost count after the second), take your electronic signature (like in the DLSU ID, where you sign on a flat black surface where you can't see what you're doing making it difficult to make your signature look normal) and finally take a picture of you.

Now for the messy part, thumbmarks with ink.

STEP FOUR
I don't know what this is for and why they called it schedule when there's only one day to vote, but they'll just give you the application stub stating your name, application number and precinct number. It's like this rectangular piece of paper they give you detached from your submitted application form.

AND YOU'RE DONE! YOU ARE A REGISTERED VOTER!!!
It's that simple.

It'll take you probably 3-5 hours to finish everything. I started at 9:30 a.m. and finished everything by 2:30 p.m. with a 12-to-1 lunch break.

One final reminder: DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!!!

Sources: Philippine e-Legal Forum, COMELEC