Executive summary

If your voter registration was deactivated—most commonly for failing to vote in two successive regular elections—you can bring it back (“reactivate”) by filing a sworn application for reactivation with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) during the registration period (continuing registration) and before the statutory “quiet period” when registration is suspended. Approval is made by the Election Registration Board (ERB) after the usual posting/objection window. Special proofs are required if deactivation was due to loss of citizenship, final criminal conviction, declared insanity/incompetence, or biometrics issues.

Why registrations get deactivated

The governing framework is the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 (R.A. 8189) and related statutes (including the biometrics law). Under these, your record may be deactivated when:

Failure to vote in two successive regular elections (national or local).
Sentence by final judgment for a crime punishable by imprisonment of not less than one (1) year, unless pardoned or granted amnesty.
Disloyalty to the duly constituted government (e.g., rebellion/insurrection), by final judgment.
Declared insane or incompetent by a competent authority, with finality.
Loss of Filipino citizenship.
Failure to submit biometrics during a mandated validation (when applicable).
Other registry actions that result in inactivation (e.g., court‐ordered exclusion, cancellation due to death).

Notes • “Two successive regular elections” means consecutive regular electoral exercises; special elections don’t usually count toward the two. • Deactivation for death or final exclusion is not “reactivated”; those are dealt with by separate correction procedures.

Reactivation vs. other registry actions

It’s important to ask for the correct remedy:

Reactivation – restores a deactivated record at the same address and precinct.
Transfer with reactivation – if you moved to a different city/municipality/legislative district; you’ll file a transfer and reactivation together.
Change/Correction of Entries – for name, civil status, etc.
Reinstatement (rare) – when a deactivation was erroneous, supported by proof.
Re-registration – only if your record was cancelled (not merely deactivated) or cannot be found.

When you may apply (timing rules)

The Philippines observes continuing registration, but no applications are accepted during the statutory prohibition window immediately before election day. In practice:

Applications (including reactivations) are accepted only during the open registration period that COMELEC announces ahead of each electoral cycle.
Submissions are not accepted within the “quiet period” (historically 120 days before regular elections and 90 days before special elections).
The ERB meets on set schedules (traditionally monthly or per COMELEC calendar) to approve/deny applications.

Practical tip: File early in the registration window. Filing late risks missing the ERB cutoff for inclusion in the Certified List of Voters (CLV) for the upcoming election.

Where to file

File at the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) that has jurisdiction over your residence:

Same address: OEO of your barangay/city/municipality.
New address: File a transfer + reactivation at the OEO of your new residence.
Overseas voters: Through the Philippine foreign service post or other channels designated for overseas voting (see the section on overseas voters).

COMELEC often offers satellite registration in malls/barangay halls and allows online pre-filling of forms (e.g., iRehistro) to speed up onsite processing. (Pre-filling does not complete filing; you must still personally appear to capture biometrics and sign the sworn forms.)

How to reactivate: step-by-step

Prepare valid identification. Bring any government-issued ID showing your photo, name, and address (or ID + proof of address). Examples: passport, national ID (PhilID), driver’s license, postal ID, SSS/UMID, PRC ID, senior citizen ID, etc.
Fill out the correct form. Ask for Application for Reactivation (and Transfer, if you moved). The clerk will indicate the proper form codes (commonly variants of CEF-1R for reactivation and CEF-1A/1B for other transactions; nomenclature may vary by circular).
Attach ground-specific proofs (if applicable). See the Documentary checklist below.
Appear personally at the OEO/satellite site.
- Biometrics capture (if needed).
- Sworn application (the form is subscribed before the EO or authorized officer).
Posting and ERB hearing. Your name and application are posted for public scrutiny; objections (if any) must be filed within the posting period. The ERB will then approve/deny your application.
Check status. After the ERB date, verify if your status is “Active” and confirm your precinct number and polling place. COMELEC typically provides precinct finders and local office verification.

Documentary checklist (by ground)

Failure to vote in two successive elections
- Valid ID(s).
- No special proof is generally required beyond your sworn application. If you previously transferred residence, do Transfer + Reactivation instead.
Final conviction (≥1 year imprisonment) but now qualified
- Certificate of Finality of judgment and, if applicable, proof of pardon/amnesty or completion of sentence.
- If conviction was for crimes of disloyalty/insurrection, attach proof of amnesty/pardon restoring political rights.
Declared insane/incompetent but now qualified
- Court order or medical certification from a government psychiatrist establishing restoration of capacity, as required by COMELEC rules.
Loss and subsequent reacquisition of Philippine citizenship
- R.A. 9225 documents: Order of Approval, Oath of Allegiance, and Identification Certificate; plus valid ID.
- If you reacquired citizenship and returned to the Philippines, decide whether to register as local voter (reactivation/transfer) or as overseas voter if you remain abroad.
Biometrics deactivation (no biometrics on record)
- Personal appearance for biometrics capture; valid ID.
- The act of validated biometrics, coupled with reactivation form, typically cures this ground.
Erroneous deactivation
- Any official proof contradicting the ground (e.g., evidence you did vote, or that you were never convicted). You may also seek administrative correction or judicial relief if needed.

Always bring originals and photocopies. The OEO may require you to sign a sworn statement tailored to your ground for deactivation.

What the ERB looks for

The ERB (usually the Election Officer as Chair, plus the local civil registrar and school district supervisor, or their alternates) decides applications based on:

Identity and residence (and precinct assignment).
Removal of the disqualification (e.g., proof of pardon, reacquisition of citizenship, restoration to capacity).
Compliance with timing (filed within the registration window) and formal requirements (sworn application, biometrics).

ERB actions are summary and administrative; they do not adjudicate complex factual disputes beyond their remit.

Remedies if denied

If your reactivation is denied, you may pursue statutory remedies within short periods, typically via:

Administrative reconsideration before the ERB/OEO if denial was for curable formal defects; and/or
Judicial remedies under the voter registration laws and election rules (e.g., petitions for inclusion/exclusion or appropriate court actions), observing strict filing windows tied to ERB dates and election calendars.

These timelines can be very short. If you intend to contest a denial, act immediately and consider obtaining legal assistance.

Overseas voters (OV)

For Filipinos abroad, the Overseas Voting Act (as amended) provides a parallel Certified List of Overseas Voters (CLOV) and rules for deactivation/reactivation, commonly for:

Failure to vote in two successive national elections for which overseas voting is allowed;
Loss of Filipino citizenship;
Transfer of residence back to the Philippines (requiring transfer to local list);
Other statutory grounds (e.g., by final judgment).

Reactivation is filed with the Foreign Service Post or through channels COMELEC designates for OV, with similar ERB-style evaluation. If you have returned to the Philippines, file a transfer to the local registry (your overseas record will be updated accordingly).

Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

Missing the cut-off. The most frequent reason reactivation doesn’t take effect for the next election is late filing. File early in the registration window.
Wrong remedy. If you moved, a plain reactivation won’t fix your precinct assignment—file Transfer + Reactivation.
Insufficient proof. For deactivations tied to citizenship, conviction, or capacity, bring primary documents (not mere photocopies or screenshots).
Assuming voting will “reactivate” you. You must be active first to vote; showing up on election day won’t cure a deactivation.
Uncaptured biometrics. If your biometrics aren’t on file (or are corrupted), you’ll need personal appearance.

Practical checklist

Confirm ground for deactivation (ask the OEO if unsure).
Check that registration is open (not in the quiet period).
Prepare valid ID (and proof of address if your ID lacks it).
Gather ground-specific documents (pardon/amnesty papers, R.A. 9225 certificates, court/medical certification, etc.).
Decide whether you also need a Transfer.
Appear personally at the OEO/satellite site; complete biometrics if needed.
Track the ERB date and later verify your status, precinct, and polling place.

Frequently asked questions

Q: I failed to vote twice. Do I need any special document? A: Usually no—a sworn reactivation form and valid ID suffice, provided you still reside at the same address. If you moved, file Transfer + Reactivation.

Q: I was convicted (≥1 year) but finished my sentence. Can I reactivate? A: Yes, once qualified again. Submit proof of completion of sentence and, if applicable, pardon/amnesty. Without these, the ERB cannot restore your record.

Q: I reclaimed Filipino citizenship under R.A. 9225. Where should I register/reactivate? A: If you reside in the Philippines, register/reactivate locally at your OEO. If you reside abroad, keep/restore your overseas voter status through the foreign post.

Q: My record was deactivated for lack of biometrics. A: Appear at the OEO/satellite site for biometrics capture and file for reactivation. Once approved, you’ll return to Active status.

Q: How long does ERB action take? A: It follows COMELEC’s posted ERB calendar (often monthly during registration). File early to make the next ERB meeting.

Q: Can someone else file for me? A: Personal appearance is generally required for biometrics and oath. Limited accommodations exist for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and illiterate voters; coordinate with your OEO for assisted processes and accessibility options.

Bottom line

Reactivation is straightforward if you (1) file within the registration window, (2) submit the right form at the right OEO, and (3) provide any ground-specific proofs. The ERB process is routine, but deadlines are strict. When in doubt about your ground or precinct, visit or call your local COMELEC OEO early in the registration period so you’re safely back on the Certified List of Voters in time for election day.