Voter Registration 2026 — Comelec Bars Barangay Certificates and Cedulas; Here Are the Valid IDs You Can Bring
VOTER REGISTRATION 2026 – If you plan to register as a voter when the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reopens registration on November 10, leave your barangay certificate and cedula at home, because these will no longer be accepted as proof of identity.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia made the reminder in an ambush interview on Thursday, November 5, 2026, as reported by INQUIRER.net. According to Garcia, the poll body found cases in which barangay officials issued residency certificates to people who did not actually live in their barangays, and some of these are now the subject of cases before the Comelec.
Voter Registration Schedule
The registration period for the 2028 National and Local Elections will run from November 10, 2026 to July 30, 2027. Based on the Comelec announcement cited by Philstar.com and The Chronicle, filing will be held from Tuesday to Friday, including scheduled Saturdays and holidays.
You may file your application at the following venues:
- Office of the Election Officer (OEO) in your city or municipality
- Satellite and mall registration sites
- Register Anywhere Program (RAP)
- Special Register Anywhere Program (SRAP)
Garcia told ABS-CBN News that registration booths will also be set up at some airports, selected hospitals and data centers to serve Filipinos who cannot visit Comelec offices because of work.
Valid IDs for Voter Registration
Garcia urged applicants to bring a government-issued ID. Among the documents he mentioned are:
- Philippine passport
- National ID (PhilSys), including the e-PhilID shown through the eGov app
- Driver’s license
- Postal ID
- NBI clearance
- Police clearance
- Student ID or library card
- Senior citizen ID
Student IDs, library cards and senior citizen IDs are accepted as long as they show the applicant’s name, photo and address. Comelec’s usual list of accepted documents, as posted on the Quezon City government voter guide, also includes the PWD ID, IBP ID, PRC license, NCIP Certificate of Confirmation, and SSS/GSIS or UMID card. If your ID does not show your address, the Election Officer may ask for additional supporting documents, so it is best to check with your local OEO before you go.
Who Can Register?
- A Filipino citizen
- At least 18 years old on or before election day
- A resident of the Philippines for at least one year before the election
- A resident of the city or municipality where you will vote for at least six months before the election
Aside from first-time registration, the period also covers transfer of registration records, reactivation of deactivated records, change of name or correction of entries, and updating of records for persons with disabilities, senior citizens and members of indigenous communities.
How To Register as a First-Time Voter
- Get the application form at the OEO, or print it beforehand from the Comelec website (do not sign it yet).
- Go to your local OEO or a registration site and present your valid ID.
- Fill out the form and submit it to the Election Officer, who will give you your application number.
- Have your biometrics captured by the registration machine operator.
- Sign the form in front of the Election Officer.
- Keep your acknowledgment receipt as proof of filing.
The Comelec is targeting at least 3 million new registrants, which would raise the total number of registered voters to 74 million from the current 71 million ahead of the 2028 polls. Garcia reminded the public not to wait for the last days of the registration period to avoid long queues.
Are you registering for the first time or transferring your voter record this year?
