Correction of Name on a Voter’s Certificate

COMELEC, Republic of the Philippines

“The right of suffrage shall be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law…” – Art. V, 1987 Constitution

A voter’s certificate (commonly called the “voter’s ID” or, in its digital form, a Voter Certification) must faithfully reflect a citizen’s true civil identity. When a name is misspelled, incomplete, or has legally changed (marriage, recognition, adoption, court-approved change of name, etc.), the remedy is a Change/Correction of Entries with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Below is a practitioner-level guide that gathers everything you need to know, from statutory roots to practical tips in the field offices.

1. Statutory & Regulatory Backbone

Source	Key Provisions
Republic Act No. 8189 – Voter’s Registration Act of 1996	• §14 Change of Name / Correction of Entries A registered voter may file a sworn application to change the name or correct any entry in the Voter Registration Record (VRR). • §17-19 ERB Hearing & Appeals The Election Registration Board (ERB) decides; denial may be appealed to the Municipal/Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC/MeTC) within ten (10) days, and to the COMELEC En Banc under §78 of B.P. Blg. 881.
Omnibus Election Code (B.P. Blg. 881, 1985)	• Art. XII, §134-135 – Inclusion & exclusion of voters. • §53-54 – False or fraudulent registration entries constitute an election offense.
COMELEC Resolutions (implementing §14, updated every registration cycle)	• Current form: CEF-1A/CEF-1C (“Application for Change/Correction of Entries”) • Latest continuing-registration rules (e.g., Res. No. 10946 [2024] for the 2025 polls) reiterate §14 mechanics and deadlines.
Civil Registry & Related Laws	• R.A. 3753 (Civil Registry Law) & R.A. 9048/10172 (administrative correction of civil‐registry entries) – supply the supporting proof of name. • Privacy: R.A. 10173 (Data Privacy Act) binds COMELEC to secure biometrics and personal data.

2. What Can Be Corrected?

Scenario	Typical Proof Required
Minor typographical error / misspelling (e.g., “Carmelita” vs “Carmelina”)	PSA-issued Birth Certificate or any valid government ID showing the correct spelling.
Legal change of surname due to marriage (adoption of spouse’s surname under Art. 370, Civil Code)	PSA Marriage Certificate.
Reversion to maiden name (annulment, death of spouse)	Court Decree of annulment/void marriage or PSA Death Certificate.
Judicial change of name (Rule 103, Rule 108, C.C.)	Certified true copy of RTC decision + Certificate of Finality.
Recognition/Legitimation/Adoption	Court or administrative order + annotated birth record.

Note: Birth-date or civil-status errors follow the same §14 procedure even though they are not “name” changes.

3. Where & When to File

Personally appear at the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) of the city/municipality/district where you are currently registered.
Continuing registration period only – COMELEC halts all updates 120 days before a regular election and 90 days before a special election (§8, R.A. 8189).
Deadline within the quarter – The ERB hears applications every third Monday of January, April, July, and October. File at least 10 days before the hearing so the notice can be posted.

4. Step-by-Step Administrative Procedure

Prepare documents
- Photocopies and originals of supporting proof (see §2).
- One (1) photocopy of a government-issued ID with photograph and signature.
- Two (2) recent 1×1 photographs (if your OEO still requires physical forms).
Accomplish CEF-1A/CEF-1C (front & back) on-site or download in advance (black ink, block letters).
Biometric capture – If the correction is substantial (e.g., totally new entry) or if your last record lacks fingerprints/photo, the OEO will recapture biometrics.
OEO posts the application on the bulletin board for ten (10) days.
ERB hearing – You may appear but it is not mandatory. The ERB will:
- Approve (majority vote) → data encoded in the VRM; new VRR printed.
- Disapprove → you receive written notice and the legal right to appeal (see §5).
Database synchronization – The Provincial/Regional Hub syncs your updated record with the National Central File.
Claim updated Voter Certification – Normally 1-2 weeks after ERB approval, but always before the next election period freeze. No fee is charged.

5. Remedies if Denied

Stage	Forum	Period	Grounds Reviewed
Appeal (administrative)	Metropolitan/Municipal Trial Court (MeTC/MTC) having territorial jurisdiction	Within 10 days from notice of denial (§19, R.A. 8189)	Questions of fact & law (e.g., sufficiency of documents, identity issues)
Petition for Certiorari	COMELEC En Banc → Supreme Court on Rule 64/65	30 days from receipt of RTC judgment	Grave abuse of discretion

Tip: Most denials arise from mismatching documentary names (Juan D. Cruz vs Juan Diego Cruz) or late filing inside the 120-day ban. Curing the documents and re-filing in the next registration window is often quicker than full litigation.

6. Interaction with Court-Ordered Corrections

A voter who already has a final court order changing his name still needs to file §14 with COMELEC; the OEO cannot take judicial notices on its own.
Conversely, if the error is purely clerical in the civil register and you have not yet secured a R.A. 9048/10172 administrative correction, do that first. COMELEC only amends entries that are incontrovertibly supported by civil-registry records.

7. Election-Law Offenses & Pitfalls

Act	Sanction
Multiple or fraudulent applications (e.g., simultaneously registering “Juan D. Cruz” and “John Cruz”)	Imprisonment 1-6 years, perpetual disqualification from public office & right of suffrage (§262, B.P. 881; §22, R.A. 8189).
False documentary submissions	Same as above + liability under Revised Penal Code, Art. 171-172 (falsification).
Late filing within 120-day-ban	Application is a nullity – registration record reverts to previous state; voter may still vote using the uncorrected entry.

8. Selected Jurisprudence

Case	G.R. No.	Holding
Mercado v. Board of Election Inspectors	L-2634 (Feb 9 1950)	A voter may not be excluded for mere misspelling if identity is established; corrections should be liberally allowed.
Ang Tibay et al. v. COMELEC	93335 (July 1990)	Court emphasized that COMELEC’s administrative correction power is summary, but decisions must still observe due process (notice & hearing).
Gamido v. COMELEC	124204 (Mar 3 1998)	Failure to file during the continuing-registration period bars a last-minute judicial remedy; the 120-day prohibition is jurisdictional.

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is there a filing fee? • None. Voter-registration services are free.
Can my representative file the correction? • No. Personal appearance is mandatory for biometrics and signature verification (§11, R.A. 8189).
Will a simple affidavit be enough proof? • Only when accompanied by primary civil-registry documents. Affidavits alone rarely suffice.
How long before I get a new physical voter’s ID card? • COMELEC stopped printing the PVC voter’s ID in 2017. You will instead receive a Voter Certification (official print-out with QR code) – usually within the same visit once the database is updated.
Does the correction automatically update my PhilSys/Passport? • No. COMELEC records do not propagate to other agencies. You must separately update each ID.

10. Practical Checklist for Applicants

✅	Item
□	PSA Birth/Marriage Certificate (or court order) – original + 2 copies
□	Government-issued photo ID with the correct name
□	Filled-out CEF-1A/1C (download from comelec.gov.ph or OEO)
□	Appear at OEO well before the ERB meeting (see §3)
□	Keep the acknowledgment stub; track approval posting after 10 days
□	Return to claim the updated Voter Certification

Bottom-Line Advice

File early, bring documentary proof that exactly matches the name you want entered, and monitor the ERB schedule. The §14 correction process is straightforward and free, but once the 120-day election ban kicks in, even the Supreme Court cannot reopen the registration books.

With this guide, you now have the full legal, procedural, and practical framework to ensure that your voter’s certificate bears your true and accurate name—upholding both your identity and your constitutional right of suffrage.