Voter registration for 2025 midterm polls starts

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday commenced the seven-month voter registration period in time for the 2025 national and local elections.

In the Comelec's office in Arroceros, Manila, a number of residents lined up as early as 4 a.m. on the first day of the voter registration, based on an Unang Balita report of Jhomer Apresto. 

Among them was Jenny Floteña who came with her one-month old infant. She said she wanted to register early to avoid the influx of applicants later in the day. 

“Habang hindi pa ako makapag-trabaho kasi maliit pa (ang baby), bale babalik kasi ako sa pagta-trabaho, eh hindi ako kailangan mag-absent sa trabaho,” Floteña said.

(I want to register now while I’m still not working because my baby is still young. Once I return to work, I can’t be absent.) 

The Comelec’s Register Anywhere Program (RAP) is also set to kick off on Monday, which allows eligible Filipinos to register to vote in designated sites like malls and schools.

Comelec chairman George Garcia earlier said that the voter registration inside the malls will be less stringent, with each registrant expected to finish his or her application in about 10 minutes. 

Around 170 malls across the country are expected to host the RAP. 

Upon registration, applicants must present one of the following government-issued identification cards (ID) bearing their signature:

• National Identification (ID) card under the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys)
• Postal ID card
• PWD ID card
• Student's ID card or library card, signed by the school authority
• Senior Citizen's ID card
• Land Transportation Office (LTO) Driver's License/Student Permit
• National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance
• Philippine Passport
• Social Security System (SSS)/Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) or other Unified Multi-Purpose ID card
• Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID card
• License issued by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC)
• Certificate of Confirmation issued by the National Commission on
• Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in case of members of ICCs or IPs
• Barangay Identification/ Certification with photo or
• Any other government-issued valid ID

Several individuals also queued early at the Comelec headquarters in Palacio del Gobernador on Monday to register. 

Meanwhile, a delegation of the poll body headed by Garcia is set to fly to Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea on Monday for voter registration. 

VIDEO: Tumulak na papuntang Pag-asa Island sa Palawan ang delegasyon ng Comelec sa pamumuno ni Chairman George Erwin Garcia para sa registration of voters. Simula ngayon ng registration sa buong bansa. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/ooX37Xb59a

— sandra aguinaldo (@sandraguinaldo) February 12, 2024

The Comelec said at least three million Filipinos are expected to register as new voters nationwide ahead of the 2025 polls. At least 67.8 million voters are currently registered across the Comelec

The voter registration will run until September 30, 2024, while the registration for the RAP will be until August 31, 2024.

Applicants may register from Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in all Comelec offices nationwide. —Giselle Ombay/KBK, GMA Integrated News