How to Get a COMELEC Voter ID (and Its Successor) in the Philippines
Updated as of 19 May 2025
1. Executive Summary
The Voter Identification Card (“Voter ID”) issued by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has not been printed since early 2017. In its place, COMELEC now issues a Voter’s Certification upon request; the Philippine Identification System (“PhilSys”) National ID will ultimately serve as the universal proof of identity, including for electoral purposes.
If you registered before 9 August 2015 and your biometrics were captured, any Voter ID queued for printing remains indefinitely suspended. If you registered on or after that date, COMELEC never generated a plastic Voter ID for you. As of today, the only document COMELEC releases to voters is the Voter’s Certification (₱75 fee, unless fee-exempt).
Nevertheless, understanding the original legal framework for the Voter ID remains useful, because it still governs voter registration and the issuance of certifications. This article traces the statutory basis, explains current practice, and sets out all practical steps for securing proof of registration in 2025.
2. Governing Laws and Regulations
| Instrument | Key Provisions |
|---|---|
| Republic Act No. 8189 (Voter’s Registration Act of 1996) | § 25 authorises COMELEC to issue a Voter ID to every registered voter and recognises it as a valid identification card for “all legal purposes”. |
| Republic Act No. 10367 (Mandatory Biometrics Registration Act of 2013) | Requires capture of digital photograph, fingerprints and signature as a condition precedent to activation of voter records; voters without biometrics were deactivated after 31 Oct 2015. |
| COMELEC Resolution No. 9853 (10 Dec 2013) | Omnibus guidelines for continuing registration, including Voter ID production workflow. |
| COMELEC Resolution No. 10549 (25 Apr 2019) | Re-sets continuing registration calendars and explicitly maintains the shift from plastic Voter ID to Certifications “until further notice”. |
| Republic Act No. 11055 (Philippine Identification System Act of 2018) | Declares PhilSys ID as government’s primary proof of identity; COMELEC committed to honoring PhilSys ID in lieu of the discontinued Voter ID. |
| COMELEC Minute Resolution 18-0766 (5 Sept 2018) | Suspends all new printing of Voter ID cards to avoid duplication with PhilSys. |
| COMELEC Resolution No. 10828 (18 Jul 2022) | Latest comprehensive rules on registration, transfer, reactivation, correction of entries, and issuance of Voter’s Certification (superseding prior resolutions where inconsistent). |
3. Eligibility to Register (and Thus to Obtain Proof of Registration)
- Filipino citizenship (Art. V, § 1, 1987 Constitution).
- At least 18 years old on or before election day (RA 8189, § 9).
- Resident of the Philippines for at least 1 year, and 6 months in the city/municipality where registering.
- Not otherwise disqualified (e.g., sentence of imprisonment for not less than one year unless restoration of political rights; insanity or incompetence as declared by a competent authority, etc.).
4. Current Proof of Registration Options (2025)
| Document | Issuing Office | Fee | Processing Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter’s Certification | Local COMELEC Office of the Election Officer (OEO) in the locality of registration | ₱75 (free to Senior Citizens, PWDs, IPs, and Indigents upon proof) | Same day if printer online; 1-2 days if batch printed | Bears QR code and dry seal. Accepted by DFA, PSA, NBI and most banks/Gov’t agencies. |
| PhilSys National ID | PSA via PhilSys Registration Centers | Free | 1-12 months (card) / 10 mins (digital ePhilID) | Acts as lifetime national ID; COMELEC honours it as voter identification at polling precincts once data-sharing fully implemented. |
Plastic COMELEC Voter ID remains legally valid if already in your possession, but no new cards are produced.
5. Step-by-Step Guide to Securing Your Voter’s Certification
Tip: The Certification can only be printed after your registration record is marked “Active” in the nationwide database. First-time registrants must therefore wait until their application is approved by the Election Registration Board (ERB)—ERB hearings are held quarterly (third Monday of January, April, July and October).
5.1 Verify Your Registration Status
Use COMELEC’s “PRECINCT FINDER” service (https://voterverifier.comelec.gov.ph), OR
Call/visit your OEO and request a quick database lookup.
- Status must read “Active” (not Deleted, Deactivated, Cancelled, etc.).
5.2 Prepare Documentary Requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| One valid government-issued ID (e.g., passport, driver’s licence, PhilSys, UMID, postal ID). | If you have no other ID, you may present a community certificate plus Oath-of-Identity signed by two registered voters in the same precinct (per Sec. 13, RA 8189). |
| Official receipt of ₱75 payment (cash only). | Pay at the OEO cashier. |
| If claiming fee exemption: Senior Citizen/PWD ID, DSWD certificate of indigency, or NCIP/IP Barangay Certification. |
5.3 File the Application
- Proceed to the Issuance/Clearance window of your OEO.
- Fill out the Application for Voter’s Certification (CEN Form VC-1) in duplicate.
- Submit ID and receipt; have fingerprints verified (biometric match) and photograph taken.
5.4 Claim Your Certification
Same day release is the norm if the local database is connected to the central server. Otherwise, return on the advised date (usually next working day). Check that:
- Name, date of birth, precinct, and barangay are correct.
- QR code prints clearly on upper right.
- Dry seal embossed and signature of the Election Officer present.
6. Special Situations
6.1 Lost or Damaged Plastic Voter ID
- No re-issuance. Instead, apply for a Voter’s Certification (process above).
- Inform the OEO so the lost ID’s serial number can be flagged; this helps deter fraud.
6.2 Recently Transferred / Reactivated Voters
- Your record becomes Active only after ERB approval.
- Certifications are issued only in the new city/municipality of registration.
6.3 Overseas Filipino Voters
- No plastic Voter ID is printed for overseas registrants.
- After your OAV application is approved, request a Voter’s Information Sheet (VIS) from the Philippine Foreign Service Post or the COMELEC-Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) in Manila.
7. Why the Voter ID Program Was Halted
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1997–2012 | Continuous rollout; cards printed centrally in COMELEC’s Intramuros centre. Backlogs accumulated because printers could process only ~200,000 cards/month against ~52 million voters. |
| 2013 | RA 10367 made biometrics mandatory. COMELEC shifted to a high-security polycarbonate card design (like a driver’s licence) but printing delays worsened. |
| Sept 2018 | Minute Resolution 18-0766 ordered indefinite suspension of card printing to avoid duplication once PhilSys ID becomes available. At that point, ~24 million IDs were still pending. |
| 2021-present | PhilSys ePhilID widely issued; DFA, SSS, GSIS, LTO, and banks began accepting PhilSys as primary ID. COMELEC included PhilSys QR code scanning in its precinct verification pilots (2023 Barangay & SK polls). |
8. Commonly Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is a Voter’s Certification accepted for passport or NBI clearance? – Yes. DFA Circular No. 2020-15 lists it among primary documents if issued within the past one year. NBI Memo No. MB-2022-115 likewise accepts certifications with QR code.
Can I vote without any ID if my name is on the precinct list? – No. Per § 12, RA 8189 and COMELEC Resolution 10924 (General Instructions for the 2025 National Elections), the Board of Election Inspectors must require ID or a known voter to vouch. PhilSys, passport, driver’s licence, or Voter’s Certification suffice.
I registered in 2016 but never got my plastic ID. Can I still claim it? – No. Printing is suspended nationwide. Apply for a Certification instead.
Is the ₱75 fee permanent? – COMELEC may waive or adjust it by resolution; the current rate is set by COMELEC Minute Resolution 19-0541 (05 Sep 2019).
Will COMELEC ever resume plastic card printing? – Unlikely. In budget hearings (House Committee on Appropriations, 14 Sept 2023), COMELEC stated that PhilSys integration makes a separate Voter ID redundant and fiscally imprudent.
9. Practical Tips
- Go early: OEOs often cut-off queues by 3 p.m.
- Check ERB schedule: Filing right after an ERB meeting means you wait nearly three months for your record to be approved and thus for certification issuance.
- Carry exact change. Some OEOs lack petty cash for change.
- Photocopy your Certification immediately and keep the original in a plastic sleeve; it is thermal-printed and fades if stored in heat.
- If you also need a Police Clearance, many PNP stations accept the same Certification copy you submit to DFA/NBI—save on photocopies.
10. Conclusion
While the COMELEC Voter ID card is effectively a legacy document, proof of voter registration remains essential for many daily transactions—from passport applications to bank account openings and, of course, for exercising the right of suffrage. In 2025, the surest and fastest route is to obtain a Voter’s Certification, with the PhilSys National ID serving as the longer-term, all-purpose credential.
Stay informed of ERB schedules, maintain updated biometrics, and safeguard your election-related documents—your right to vote is both a constitutional privilege and a practical key to many civic services in the Philippines.