How to Get a Voter’s ID or Voter’s Certification in the Philippines

(A practitioner‑friendly legal guide as of 17 April 2025)

1. Why the “Voter’s ID” Is No Longer Issued

What it used to be	Why it stopped	Present substitute
Plastic, biometrics‑based ID provided under §28, Republic Act (RA) 8189 (Voter’s Registration Act of 1996).	COMELEC Resolution 10159 (January 2017) suspended printing to avoid duplication with the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) created by RA 11055 (2018).	A Voter’s Certification—a paper document with dry seal and QR code—now serves as official proof that one is a registered voter.

Key takeaway: If you already hold the old green‑and‑white Voter’s ID, it remains valid. If you never received one, you can only request a Voter’s Certification (or use your PhilSys National ID once issued).

2. Governing Laws & Regulations

RA 8189 (1996) – establishes continuous registration and the original concept of a Voter’s ID.
RA 10367 (2013) – makes biometrics capture mandatory for registration.
RA 11055 (2018) – creates the PhilSys National ID, effectively superseding the Voter’s ID card.
COMELEC Resolutions (updated each election cycle) – formally suspend ID printing, fix fees, and detail the issuance of certifications (most recently Res. 10828, 3 Oct 2023).
RA 10754 & RA 9994 – grant fee exemptions and priority lanes for persons with disability (PWD) and senior citizens.

3. Who May Apply for a Voter’s Certification

Eligible Person	Condition
Active voter	Name appears as “Active” in the local registry (no failure to vote in two consecutive regular elections).
Deactivated voter	May still secure a certification for the period covered by a pending reactivation—the document will show “DEACTIVATED.”
First‑time registrant	Must wait until COMELEC completes the Election Registration Board (ERB) hearing approving the application (usually the next quarter).
Overseas voter (OCAV)	Requests through the nearest embassy/consulate or COMELEC‑COAV in Manila.

4. Documentary Requirements

One current government‑issued ID bearing the applicant’s photo and signature (PhilSys ID, passport, driver’s license, UMID, etc.).
Reference number of confirmed online appointment (see § 5).
Authorization letter & photocopy of the applicant’s ID if filed through a representative (allowed only for bedridden, high‑risk medical, or overseas workers).
Supporting document for fee waiver (senior citizen ID, PWD ID, DSWD certificate of indigency) if availing of free issuance.

5. Step‑by‑Step Procedure (Regular Applicants)

Stage	Particulars	Practical tips
1. Book an appointment	Access the COMELEC Voter Certification Online Appointment System (VCOAS) at <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//appointment.comelec.gov.ph>. Choose: • “Office of the Election Officer (OEO)” in your city/municipality, or • Intramuros–Main Office (if Metro Manila).	Slots open 30 days in advance, midnight release. Screen‑capture your confirmation page.
2. Personal appearance & payment	Arrive 15 minutes before schedule. Present printed or digital confirmation and ID. Pay ₱75 to the cashier (Official Receipt required).	Fee exemptions: seniors, PWDs, and indigent voters pay ₱0 (Res. 10828).
3. Biometric verification	Data capture clerk scans fingerprints and signature to confirm identity; no new photo is taken.	Wear sleeved attire; remove caps/eyeglasses when asked.
4. Printing & dry seal	Clerk prints the certification on security paper, applies embossed COMELEC seal plus QR sticker.	Check spelling of name and address before countersigning the logbook.
5. Release	Same‑day release if the record has no adverse remarks. Otherwise 3‑5 working days.	You may authorize pickup via SPA if delayed.

6. Satellite, Express & Special Cases

Scenario	Where / How	Notes
Mall Registration & Issuance Days	COMELEC partners with SM, Robinsons, Ayala Malls several weekends before an election.	Walk‑in or mall‑based online booking; issuance usually while‑you‑wait.
Barangay / university caravans	Local Election Officers set up pop‑ups during voter education drives.	Often fee‑free under LGU subsidy.
Senior, PWD, pregnant	Priority lanes are mandatory under Batas Pambansa 344 and subsequent regulations.	Appointment optional; can walk in.
Overseas Filipino Worker	File at Philippine embassy/consulate or authorize a relative in the OEO (Bring passport copy & OEC).	Processing may take 2‑4 weeks due to inter‑office verification.

7. Frequently Asked Legal Questions

Question	Answer
Is the Voter’s Certification accepted for passport application?	Yes. The DFA recognizes it as a primary ID under Department Order 2022‑011.
Validity period?	Indefinite—it merely certifies voter status as of date of issuance. Many institutions, however, prefer documents not older than six months.
Lost or damaged copy?	Re‑apply following the same steps; pay the fee again.
Can it be apostilled for use abroad?	Yes. Have it notarized by the Clerk of Commission (also in COMELEC main office), then authenticate at the DFA‑OCA for apostille.
What if I was de‑listed for failing to vote?	File a Reactivation Application (C4) first; once approved, you may request a fresh certification.

8. Cost Matrix (2025 Schedule)

Item	Amount	Legal Basis
Certification fee	₱75	COMELEC Res. 10828, §5
Notarial fee (optional)	₱200	Clerk of Commission schedule
Authenticated copy (red ribbon/ apostille)	₱100	DFA OCA Circular 19‑12
Exemptions	₱0	Seniors, PWDs (RA 10754, RA 9994); Indigent voters (barangay certification)

9. Timeline of Major Issuances (Practitioner’s Cheat Sheet)

Date	Instrument	Key Point
16 Dec 1996	RA 8189	Established Voter’s ID.
15 Jan 2017	COMELEC Res. 10159	Suspended ID printing.
6 Aug 2018	RA 11055	PhilSys National ID law.
15 Aug 2021	Launch of VCOAS	Mandatory online appointment for certifications.
3 Oct 2023	COMELEC Res. 10828	Updated fees; integrated QR code and dry seal.
1 Mar 2025	Memorandum MC25‑019	Mandated same‑day release for clean records.

10. Compliance Tips for Law Offices & NGOs

Keep specimen signatures of Election Officers handy—banks sometimes phone‑verify authenticity.
For mass processing (e.g., scholarship grantees), send a prior coordination letter to the OEO to avoid bottlenecks.
Educate clients that a PhilSys ID does not list precinct data; a Voter’s Certification is still required when proof of district or precinct number is needed (e.g., party‑list accreditation, COMELEC gun ban exemptions).
Archive at least one scanned PDF of every certification issued to your client for future pleadings or notarizations.

11. Practical Flowchart

START
                       |
       Are you already a registered voter?
                 /            \
              YES              NO
               |                |
         Book VCOAS       First, accomplish
         appointment        CEF-1 (iRehistro)
               |                |
   Present valid ID & OR     Attend biometrics
               |                |
      Pay fee / claim        Wait for ERB
      on the same day          approval
               |                |
        Receive paper      THEN book VCOAS
      certification                 |
                       Claim certification

(Feel free to reproduce the flowchart for client advisories.)

12. Final Notes & Disclaimers

Check for new COMELEC resolutions every election cycle. Fees and procedures can change with little lead time.
This guide reflects regulations in force as of 17 April 2025. When citing in pleadings or journals, always attach the primary source (resolution or law) to avoid hearsay objections.
Local Election Officers have limited administrative discretion; polite coordination goes a long way toward expedited release.

Prepared by: [Your Name], LL.M.
For educational purposes; not a substitute for formal legal advice.