UPDATE: The Commission on Elections will resume voter registration on Saturdays starting February 2021, according to COMELEC Comissioner Rowena Guanzon.
YES Saturday registration @COMELEC will start in Feb. Guys, this was your request those turning 18 and those working M -F. So no excuses , register na !
— Rowena Guanzon (@rowena_guanzon) February 3, 2021Original story follows
In case you missed you it, voter's registration has been officially underway since September 1, 2020 amid the varying levels of quarantine across the nation. We still have COVID-19 (do not be complacent!), so it is best to be prepared before you even go to your local Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office.
EVERY VOTE counts as the recent election in the United States showed. While Joseph Biden is now the president-elect (Kamala Harris is his vice-president-elect, the first female and the person of color to hold the office) and won the popular vote, it was not a landslide win against Donald Trump, now a first-term U.S. president.
How to register to vote in #Halalan2022
Note that voter registration is on hold when areas are under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ). You can follow these steps when your city or barangay is under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ.
1 Download the necessary application forms.
There are two forms needed: the actual registration form (CEF-1) and another for added data (Annex B). You can download these forms — plus a Coronavirus Self-Declaration Form, more on it later — through the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) website.
If the government site is down on your end, COMELEC spokesperson James Jimenez has made the two necessary forms available on his personal site as well. He also has a handy guide how to fill them up.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWHere are a couple quick reminders on printing and filling out the forms:
- Print them out on a long bond paper (8.5 by 13 inches).
- Fill them out but DO NOT SIGN IT yet. Leave the oath portion blank. Why? "The law says you can only do that in person, before the Election Officer," noted Jimenez.
Also, this step is optional but highly recommended due to the pandemic. Basically, the less time you spend in the COMELEC office, the better. If you really don't have the resources to do so, the forms will be available for you for free at the office.
2 Other documents for voter's registration application
Apart from the application forms, here's what you need to bring if you're registering to vote for the first time, transferring your registration (from one municipality to another), and need a change of correction entry.PHOTO BY courtesy of Pasig City Public Information OfficeCONTINUE READING BELOWwatch now3 Make an appointment with your Office of the Election Officer
Again, this step is optional. You can walk in anytime but COMELEC highly encourages you to call because those appointments will be prioritized. If you're registering within Metro Manila, you can find the contact numbers of your local COMELEC office here.
You can check out the updated list on Jimenez's website. If you're outside Metro Manila, you can check out their albums for the schedules per region.
You can make the appoinment through their Facebook page or through phone. Registration can be done from Tuesdays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
4 What to remember at the COMELEC office
Don't forget all the protective measures such as face shields, masks, and whatever else you need. You'll be asked to sign a health declaration form—the one mentioned above—before entering. And don't forget the necessary documents depending on your registration above!
One Smart Parenting staffer, a resident of Pasig City, sent Pasig City Public Information Office a message via Facebook about health protocols during voter registration. It provided this memo including a list of other documents to bring.PHOTO BY courtesy of Pasig City Public Information OfficeADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWAfter submitting your papers, having it verified, and signing the oath, your biometrics will be collected. After that, your registration process is complete! Now all you need to do is to show up in the coming elections.
This story originally appeared on Spot.ph.
*Edits have been made by the SmartParenting.com.ph editors.
This article was updated on February 3, 2021 at 3:27 p.m.
What other parents are reading
.jpg)
