2019 is election year again here in the Philippines and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has resumed voter registration starting July 2, 2018 until September 29, 2018. Qualified Filipino voters have almost three months to register in time for the May 13, 2019 elections. During the midterm elections, Filipinos will vote for twelve (12) senators.
Voter registration is done only once. Your registration is permanent and good for further elections as long as you keep it active by voting in elections. Those who failed to vote in the last two elections need to apply for reactivation of his/her registration. When a voter transfers residence, he/she also needs to apply for the transfer of his/her registration record.
Besides registration, applications for transfer/transfer with reactivation, reactivation, change/correction of entry and inclusion/reinstatement of records in the list of voters will also be accepted during the said period.  These can be personally filed at the Offices of the Election Officer of the city/district/municipality where the applicant resides, from 8AM to 5PM, Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays.
Who are qualified to register as a voter?
- Filipino citizens
- At least 18 years of age on or before May 13, 2019
- Resident of the Philippines for at least one year before the elections or a resident in the place, for at least six months immediately before the election, wherein he/she proposes to vote
- Not disqualified by law
Who are disqualified to register as a voter?
- Any person who has been sentenced by final judgment to suffer imprisonment for not less than one (1) year, such disability not having been removed by plenary pardon or amnesty;
- Any person who has been adjudged by final judgment by a competent court or tribunal of having committed any crime involving disloyalty to the duly-constituted government, such as, rebellion, insurrection, violation of the firearms laws, or any crime against national security unless restored to his/her full civil and political rights in accordance with law; and
- Insane or incompetent person as declared by competent authority unless subsequently declared by proper authority that such person is no longer insane or incompetent.
Watch out for COMELEC’s announcement of its satellite registration sites also in various barangays, public plazas, schools and other public places. In such offsite registrations, preference shall be given to indigenous peoples (IPs), senior citizens, and pregnant women.
Voting is a constitutional right, register and vote!
