Voter Registration — Correcting or Changing Your Last Name in the Philippines

A practitioner-oriented guide based on Republic Act No. 8189 (The Voter’s Registration Act of 1996), subsequent COMELEC resolutions, and related civil registry rules.

1. Why last-name corrections matter

The Certified List of Voters (CVL) is the only official basis for precinct-level voter-verification on election day. A misspelled or outdated surname can:

delay or prevent the issuance of a ballot;
create inconsistencies with poll-watchers’ or candidates’ copies of the CVL;
trigger disqualification contests if identity is challenged.

2. Governing law and regulations

Source	Key provision
R.A. 8189, §15	Allows “correction of entries” in the VRR (Voter Registration Record) for errors in name, address, sex, date or place of birth.
COMELEC Resolution 10549 (1 Apr 2019)	Latest omnibus rules on continuing registration; still cited in all subsequent registration calendars.
COMELEC Minute Resolution series	Fixes the annual schedule (usually July – Sept for barangay/SK; Dec – Sept before national elections).
R.A. 11302 (Ease of Doing Business)	Forces one-stop processing; OEOs now accept civil registry e-copies in lieu of originals if QR-verifiable.
R.A. 10366	Requires priority lanes and relaxed ID rules for PWDs and senior citizens.

Note: A “correction of entry” is different from a “transfer of registration” (change of precinct/city) and from “change of civil status” (marriage, annulment). Women who adopt their husband’s surname after marriage technically file a Correction of Entry under §15, not a new registration.

3. Common grounds for last-name correction

Scenario	Proper remedy
Typographical error (e.g., Dela Cruuz instead of Dela Cruz)	Correction of entry
Use of husband’s surname after marriage	Correction of entry (attach PSA marriage certificate)
Reverting to maiden name after annulment/legal separation	Correction of entry (attach court decree & annotated PSA birth/marriage cert)
Adoption or legitimation	Correction of entry (attach amended PSA birth cert or court order)
Court-approved change under R.A. 9048 / R.A. 10172	Correction of entry (attach annotated PSA birth cert & decision)

4. Who may file

The voter concerned — personal appearance is required because biometrics (photo, fingerprints, signature) must be recaptured.
Authorized representative may only submit the documentary proofs in advance, but the voter must still appear for biometrics no later than the last day of registration. Power-of-attorney is NOT accepted for the actual filing.

5. Where to file

Office of the Election Officer (OEO) of the city/municipality (or district OEO in large cities like Quezon City) where you are already registered.
Satellite registration sites are allowed during outreach drives, but all correction requests are routed to the main OEO for ERB (Election Registration Board) action.

6. When to file

Election type	Last day to accept corrections
Regular national/local (May 12 , 2025)	120 days before election day → January 12 , 2025
Barangay & SK (Dec 1 , 2025)	90 days before → September 2 , 2025
Special Election	45 days before voting

The OEO can accept filings any time during the continuing registration period, but they are barred during the 90/120-day “freeze” preceding an election.

7. Documentary requirements

Accomplished CEF-1A (Application for Correction of Entry) Obtainable at any OEO or downloadable PDF from comelec.gov.ph.
Valid identification (any one):
- UMID, PhilSys, passport, driver’s license, PRC ID, postal ID, senior/PWD card, government employee ID, school ID with current registration form.
Proof of correct surname
- PSA-issued birth certificate (always required)
- PLUS whichever applies:
  - PSA marriage certificate (for married women)
  - PSA annotated birth/marriage cert or court decree (for annulment, legitimation, adoption, R.A. 9048/10172 changes)
Barangay certification or utility bill (only if your current address is different from the address on your ID).

No filing fee is required. Photocopies must be submitted with the original / PSA-issued security paper copy for authentication.

8. Step-by-step procedure

Step	What happens
1. Personal appearance	Proceed to the OEO; queue under “Correction of Entry.”
2. Form filling	Complete CEF-1A; OEO staff assists & checks documents.
3. Biometrics capture	Digital photo, fingerprints, and e-signature taken again; this is mandatory even for a minor spelling fix.
4. OEO stamping	Application stamped “RECEIVED” with date & time; voter receives a claim stub.
5. ERB hearing	Your application is posted in the barangay hall and city/municipal bulletin board for one (1) week. Three weeks later, the ERB examines and approves/denies.
6. Notice of approval	OEO posts the ERB minutes; if approved, the VRR is updated. No separate mail notice is sent, so check the ERB list or comelec.gov.ph after the hearing.
7. Inclusion in next CVL	The corrected surname appears in the next CVL generation (usually 30–45 days after ERB approval).

9. After filing: monitoring and remedies

Appeal of denial — File a verified Petition for Inclusion/Exclusion under §25, R.A. 8189 before the Municipal/Metropolitan Trial Court within 10 days of the ERB action.
Data verification — Use COMELEC’s “Precinct Finder” to confirm the updated name once the CVL is published (expect a 2-to-3-month lead time).
Election-day issues — In rare cases where the old spelling still appears, present your claim stub and IDs to the BEI; they will verify with the OEO-supplied updated “Project of Precincts – ERRATA” list.

10. Special situations & practical tips

Hyphenated surnames: COMELEC treats “Dela Cruz-Santos” and “Santos Dela Cruz” as the same surname if the voter can show both versions appear on civil-registry documents. Spell exactly as it appears on the PSA record to avoid future corrections.
Overseas voters (R.A. 10590): Last-name corrections may be filed only at the Philippine Embassy/Consulate where you are registered or at the nearest OEO when you return home; the 120-day cut-off still applies.
IP & ICC members: If you use a single name in customary law, put that as “Last Name” and leave “First Name” blank; subsequent clarifications are handled as corrections under §15.
Agency employees doing bulk updates: COMELEC now rejects “group” filings by HR departments; each employee must appear.

11. Liability for false statements

Imprisonment — 1 to 6 years (R.A. 8189, §43).
Perpetual disqualification from holding public office and from voting.
Civil/criminal liability under the Revised Penal Code (falsification) if forged PSA documents are used.

12. Frequently Asked Questions

Q	A
Can I correct my name and transfer precinct in the same transaction?	Yes. Use CEF-1A (Correction) and CEF-1C (Transfer). Biometrics are taken once.
Do I need a police clearance?	No. Only the IDs and PSA documents listed above.
Will my voter ID card be re-issued?	COMELEC stopped printing voter IDs in 2017. Instead, print your COMELEC Voter Certification (₱75 fee).
Can I send documents by mail?	Not valid. Personal biometrics capture is non-waivable.

13. Checklist (print-friendly)

☐ CEF-1A fully accomplished
☐ Photocopy + original PSA birth certificate
☐ Supporting civil-status document (if any)
☐ One valid, government-issued photo ID
☐ Personal appearance for biometrics
☐ Note the ERB hearing date & check results

Bottom line

Correcting your surname is free, relatively quick (4–6 weeks), and absolutely essential to ensure a trouble-free voting experience. File early—not later than 120 days before election day—bring the right PSA documents, and monitor the ERB posting. Done right, the updated name will appear on the next Certified List of Voters, guaranteeing your ballot on election day.