Replacing a Lost or Damaged Voter ID in the Philippines – A Comprehensive Legal Guide (2025)
1. Background: What Happened to the Voter ID?
Statutory basis. The “Voter Identification Card” was created by §12 of Republic Act No. 8189 (Voter’s Registration Act of 1996). The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) was mandated to capture biometrics and issue a laminated photo card to every registered voter.
Suspension of card printing. On August 23 2016 the COMELEC En Banc directed the Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD) to halt further production of voter ID cards so it could migrate its database to the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys). The suspension was reiterated in several internal memoranda and by COMELEC Minute Resolution 16-0600.
Transition to PhilSys and “Voter’s Certification.”
- Republic Act No. 11055 (PhilSys Act, 2018) created a single national ID. COMELEC has since treated the voter ID as “functionally obsolete.”
- Instead of a plastic card, COMELEC now issues a Voter’s Certification (a secure paper print-out with QR code and dry seal). Under COMELEC Resolution No. 10132 (and subsequent guidelines), this certification “shall for all legal purposes take the place of the voter ID card.”
- All courts, government offices, banks and private entities have been repeatedly advised—most recently through COMELEC Advisory 22-013, dated 27 May 2022—to accept the certification.
▶ Practical effect: No new or replacement voter ID cards are currently produced. When you ask for a “replacement,” the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) gives you a Voter’s Certification instead.
2. Governing Rules for Replacement (Loss or Damage)
| Legal Instrument | Key Provisions Relevant to Replacement |
|---|---|
| RA 8189, §12 & §29 | (a) COMELEC shall issue an ID to every voter; (b) loss or destruction of any registration record requires the voter to execute an Affidavit describing the loss/damage. |
| COMELEC Resolution No. 10132 (2016) | Converts all pending ID requests into requests for a Voter’s Certification; sets a ₱75 fee for issuance “except when requested for indigency, senior-citizen, or electoral purposes.” |
| COMELEC Minute Resolution 22-0777 (2022) | First replacement certification is free if the original was lost or destroyed by force majeure; subsequent issuances or requests for “plain additional copies” are subject to the ₱75 fee. |
| COMELEC Resolution No. 10918 (2023) | Updates standardized forms: VR-RF1A (Regular Registrants), and VR-RF1B (Filipinos overseas); adds an Affidavit of Loss/Damage template, sworn before the OEO. |
3. Step-by-Step Procedure (2025)
The process is uniform nationwide, but a few city/municipal offices accept online reservations through the COMELEC Registration Information System (CRIS). When in doubt, call your OEO.
| Step | What to Do | Legal Reference / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Prepare documents | • Any one government-issued ID (passport, driver’s license, PhilSys, etc.) • Affidavit of Loss (if lost) or Affidavit of Mutilation (if damaged). – Must describe the circumstances and state that the card has not been used fraudulently. – Can be sworn before a notary or directly before the Election Officer (no notarial fee). |
RA 8189 §29; Res. 10918 Forms Annex “B-3”. |
| 2. Go to your OEO | Appear personally; the transaction cannot be done by proxy. | Personal appearance is required under §12 for biometrics verification. |
| 3. Fill out VR-RF1A “Request for Certification/Replacement” | Tick the box “Replacement of lost/damaged ID” and attach the affidavit. | VR-RF1A, as revised 2023. |
| 4. Biometrics verification | Your fingerprints and photograph will be pulled up on the Voter Registration System to confirm identity. | COMELEC Rules on Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). |
| 5. Pay the fee | If applicable pay ₱75 at the cashier; the OEO issues an Official Receipt. | Minute Res. 22-0777; indigents, PWDs, senior citizens: fee waived (present proof). |
| 6. Claim the Certification | • Same-day release in most OEOs (if printers are online). • If offline, a release stub will indicate the pick-up date (usually within 3 working days). |
Res. 10132 § 5.4; COMELEC operations memos (2024). |
| 7. Use & validity | The Certification bears a QR code verifiable on the COMELEC website; it is valid until another registration cycle or until you transfer registration (no fixed expiry date). | COMELEC Advisory 21-006. |
4. Special Scenarios
| Scenario | Additional Rule |
|---|---|
| Registered voter relocated to a new city/municipality | File Application for Transfer first; the certification can be issued after the Election Registration Board (ERB) approves the transfer (next quarterly ERB hearing). |
| Overseas Filipino Voter (OFV) | Request through the nearest Philippine Embassy/Consulate or by post using the Overseas Voter Registration Form (OVF-1C); the certification is usually sent electronically with a QR-embedded PDF. |
| Name changed (marriage, court-ordered correction) | File Application for Change/Correction of Entries (VR-RF10); replacement certification reflects the new name after ERB approval. |
| Found the “lost” card later | The paper Certification automatically supersedes the old plastic card; there is no penalty for dual possession, but the plastic card is no longer honored for official transactions. |
5. Fees Table (as of May 2025)
| Item | Ordinary Fee | Exemptions (Fee = ₱0) |
|---|---|---|
| First replacement due to force majeure (fire, flood, typhoon) | ₱0 | – |
| First replacement due to loss/theft (with affidavit) | ₱75 | Indigents (DSWD certificate) Senior citizens (ID) PWDs (ID) Requests made for a pending election protest |
| Subsequent copies (same voter) | ₱75 each | Same exemptions above |
| Certified true copy of registration record | ₱10 per page | Always free for courts & electoral tribunals |
6. Common Misconceptions
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| “I must wait for COMELEC to resume printing plastic cards.” | COMELEC has no plan to resume printing; the paper certification is the replacement. |
| “Banks don’t accept the certification.” | Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Memorandum M-2021-014 requires banks to accept it as a primary ID, provided the QR code validates. |
| “I can authorize my spouse to claim the certification.” | Only the voter may claim; the paper is generated after live fingerprint verification. |
| “The certification expires after one year.” | It has open-ended validity unless your registration status changes (transfer, deactivation, etc.). |
7. Penalties for Fraud
- Using someone else’s certification or falsifying the document constitutes Election Offense under §262(b) of the Omnibus Election Code, punishable by 1–6 years imprisonment, disqualification from holding public office, and deprivation of the right of suffrage.
- Knowingly executing a false Affidavit of Loss is Perjury under Art. 183, Revised Penal Code, now revised by RA 11594 (2021), with penalties up to 6 years and 1 day.
8. Practical Tips
- Use PhilSys if possible. Since most agencies prefer the Philippine National ID, registering for PhilSys can spare you from repeated certification requests.
- Keep a scanned copy. While photocopies are not valid for transactions, a digital copy can speed up remote QR-verification.
- Check your registration status online at https://voterverifier.comelec.gov.ph before going to the OEO; if your record is deactivated (e.g., failure to vote in two consecutive regular elections) you must reactivate first.
- Schedule ahead during election season. In barangay or SK election years, OEO queues lengthen; use the COMELEC Queuing System (CQS) where available.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Can I request by mail? | Only Overseas Filipino Voters currently have a mail-based option. Domestic voters must appear in person for biometric confirmation. |
| Is the fee the same nationwide? | Yes. OEOs may not add local “service fees.” Any extra charge is unlawful exaction under Art. 213, RPC. |
| What if I cannot afford the notarization? | Swear the affidavit before the Election Officer for free under the 2020 Revised Notarial Rules of COMELEC. |
| When will COMELEC issue a smart-card ID again? | COMELEC’s 2024–2028 Information Systems Strategic Plan (ISSP) explicitly drops plastic IDs in favor of PhilSys integration. |
10. Conclusion
Replacing a lost or damaged voter ID in the Philippines is no longer about getting a new plastic card. By virtue of RA 8189, subsequent COMELEC resolutions, and the PhilSys Act, the Voter’s Certification now fully substitutes for the old ID. The process is straightforward—prepare an affidavit, appear before your Election Officer, pay the minimal fee (if any), and receive the certification, often within the same day. Understanding the current framework saves time and prevents frustration, especially as the electoral system modernizes toward a single, national proof of identity.