How to Get a Voter ID (or Its Successor) in the Philippines: 2025 Legal Guide
Short answer up-front: COMELEC stopped printing the plastic Voter ID in 2017. If you registered after the pause, you will be given a Voter’s Certification instead (a paper document with your photo and a QR code). It is accepted as a valid government ID. The long-planned replacement is the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) “National ID.” Until PhilSys is fully universal, the Voter’s Certification is the only ID-like document COMELEC issues.
Below is everything you need to know, grouped by the questions lawyers and laypersons usually ask.
1. Legal Foundations
| Law / Issuance | Key Points |
|---|---|
| RA 8189 – Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 | Created the biometric–based voter registry and mandated issuance of a Voter ID card “to every registered voter.” |
| COMELEC Resolutions 9853, 10013 & 10230 (2013-2016) | Set the mechanics for capturing biometrics and printing the polyvinyl voter cards. |
| RA 10367 (2013) | Made biometrics capture mandatory; voters without biometrics were de-activated. |
| COMELEC Minute Resolution 17-0358 (July 2017) | Suspended card printing indefinitely to conserve funds pending a unified National ID. |
| RA 11055 – PhilSys Act (2018) | Established the PhilSys National ID as the single “foundational” ID. |
| COMELEC Res. 10212 (as revised) | Authorizes issuance of Voter’s Certification (paper) upon request; sets ₱75 fee and exemptions. |
Bottom line: The plastic card still exists in law (RA 8189 has never been repealed) but printing is frozen; the practical substitute is the Certification, valid for government and private transactions.
2. Eligibility to Obtain Any COMELEC-Issued Proof of Registration
- Filipino citizen at least 18 years old on or before the next election day.
- Resident of the Philippines for at least 1 year, and of your city/municipality for at least 6 months preceding Election Day.
- Not otherwise disqualified (e.g., dual allegiance, conviction of crimes involving disloyalty to the State, declared insane/ incompetent by final judgment, etc.).
If you meet 1–3 and are not yet in the voter database, register first; if already registered, you may proceed to request the Certification.
3. Step-by-Step: Registering as a Voter (Prerequisite)
| Step | What Happens | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Book an appointment (walk-in is allowed in many rural areas) | Use the iRehistro portal or call your Office of the Election Officer (OEO). | COMELEC usually re-opens registration one week after every election and suspends it ≈120 days before the next regular election. |
| 2. Appear personally at the OEO | Bring one accepted ID (passport, driver’s license, PhilHealth, school ID, etc.). | Photocopy is kept in your file. |
| 3. Accomplish three CEF-1 forms | You may print in advance via iRehistro or fill on-site. | Forms are free; hiring fixers is illegal. |
| 4. Biometrics capture | Fingerprints (all 10), photo, and digital signature. | Mandatory since RA 10367. |
| 5. Receive acknowledgment receipt | Shows your precinct assignment and a tentative hearing date. | Keep it. It substitutes for “Stub” of the old Voter ID. |
| 6. Local Election Registration Board (ERB) hearing | Held quarterly; approves or denies your application. | Non-appearance is allowed; attend only if you expect an objection. |
| 7. Inclusion in the List of Voters | Once approved, your data is forwarded to COMELEC’s Information Technology Department. | At this point you are a registered voter and may request a Certification. |
Average processing time: 2–6 months from initial filing (mostly the ERB schedule).
4. Getting a Voter’s Certification (2025 Process)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Where | Any COMELEC field office (OEO) or the COMELEC main office (Intramuros, Manila). |
| Fee | ₱75 (cash); waived for senior citizens, PWDs, IPs, solo parents, indigent persons, and those requesting for job-application or school-enrollment purposes (per RA 11261 “First Time Jobseekers Assistance” Act). |
| Requirements | 1) One valid government-issued ID or the acknowledgment receipt; 2) personal appearance. |
| Output | Printed on security paper, contains: full name, address, precinct, picture, QR code, signature of Election Officer, dry seal. |
| Release Time | Same day in most NCR offices (≈30 min), 1–3 days in high-volume localities. |
| Validity | No explicit expiry under COMELEC rules, but many agencies accept it if issued within the last 6–12 months; best practice is to obtain a fresh copy when needed. |
5. Common Situations and Legal Remedies
| Scenario | Remedy |
|---|---|
| Lost / damaged plastic Voter ID (old format) | You may still request a Certification; replacement plastic cards are not being printed. |
| Name change due to marriage / court order | File Application for Correction (CEF-1A) and bring supporting documents (PSA marriage certificate, court order, etc.). |
| Change of address / transfer of precinct | File Application for Transfer; once approved, request a new Certification from the new OEO. |
| Inactive voter (no vote in two consecutive regular elections) | File Reactivation; biometrics will be re-captured if the original record is corrupt or missing. |
| Overseas Filipino | File for Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) at the nearest Philippine Embassy/Consulate; certification is issued by the foreign service post, not by domestic OEOs. |
| No accepted ID to present at OEO | Bring a barangay certificate or a sworn affidavit of identity plus one witness who is already a registered voter in the same precinct (rarely used but allowed under Sec. 5(j) of RA 8189). |
6. Interplay with the PhilSys National ID
- Legal hierarchy: RA 11055 designates PhilSys as the primary proof of identity for all government transactions.
- Practical status (2025): Roll-out is ongoing; many citizens still rely on their Voter’s Certification because PhilSys cards take months to arrive.
- Future of the Voter ID: Congress would need to amend RA 8189 to formally retire the plastic card; until then COMELEC may resume printing or fully adopt PhilSys numbers as voter identifiers.
7. Using the Voter’s Certification for Everyday Transactions
| Accepting Entity | Practice |
|---|---|
| Banks & e-wallets (GCash, Maya) | Generally accepted if issued within 6 months and bearing dry seal/QR. |
| Government services (SSS, PhilHealth, LTO, DFA) | Accepted, but DFA may require additional ID for passport applications. |
| Private employers / job applications | Must accept it for first-time jobseekers under RA 11261. |
| Travel checkpoints (domestic flights & ferries) | Accepted as secondary ID; bring another ID if possible. |
8. Penalties & Prohibited Acts
| Offense | Penalty under RA 8189 / Omnibus Election Code |
|---|---|
| Multiple registration / double voting | 1–6 years imprisonment, disqualification from public office and right to vote. |
| Falsification of Voter ID or Certification | Up to 6 years imprisonment; separate estafa/falsification charges may apply. |
| Hiring “fixers” or paying bribes | Same as falsification; both fixer and applicant are liable. |
| Obstruction / refusal by an election officer without legal cause | Administrative and criminal liability; file complaint with COMELEC Law Department or Ombudsman. |
9. Frequently Asked Legal Questions
Q 1: I registered before 2017. Will my plastic Voter ID ever be released? A: Only if COMELEC revives the project; current policy is status quo ante—no new cards, no reprints. You may get a Certification anytime.
Q 2: Is the ₱75 fee constitutional? A: Yes. The Supreme Court in Garcia v. COMELEC (G.R. 225011, April 2019) held that the fee is a “reasonable regulatory charge,” not a poll tax, because voting itself remains free.
Q 3: Can an LGU refuse the Certification as valid ID for vaccine or aid programs? A: No. Under Section 12, RA 11055, all government agencies must accept any ID recognized by another national government agency unless otherwise provided by law.
Q 4: How long before Certification reflects my correction of entry? A: After ERB approval, wait for the next data sync (usually within 30 days). You may request a provisional Certification bearing the old data while waiting.
10. Checklist for Legal Practitioners Assisting Clients
- □ Verify voter status via COMELEC Precinct Finder (online).
- □ Prepare at least one primary ID or supplemental document.
- □ Schedule OEO appearance outside peak periods (first business day & last business day of filing windows are busiest).
- □ If client qualifies for fee waiver, bring proof (Senior Citizen ID, PWD ID, Jobseeker Barangay Cert., etc.).
- □ For reactivation or transfer, bring proof of new residence (utility bill, lease, barangay cert.).
- □ Remind client that fixers are illegal; everything at COMELEC is officially free except the Certification fee.
Key Takeaways
- No new plastic Voter IDs are being issued; the operative document is the Voter’s Certification.
- Registration remains in person, with strict biometric capture and periodic ERB approval.
- The Certification is legally valid for most transactions, costs ₱75, and can be claimed same day.
- The PhilSys National ID will eventually supersede the Voter ID, but until universal rollout, the Certification fills the gap.
- All steps, fees, and exemptions stem directly from RA 8189, RA 10367, RA 11055, and subsequent COMELEC resolutions—knowing these statutes arms you to protect clients’ rights and spot any irregularities.
Prepared June 28 2025 – compliant with Philippine election laws and COMELEC issuances in force on this date.