While we’ve only recently concluded the national elections, another voting season is coming upon us. On the last Monday of October 2023, the Philippines will be holding the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). As such, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has resumed its voter registration campaign, which is also in preparation for the next national elections scheduled in May 2025. Here’s what you need to know for this voter registration period:

What makes you eligible

To be eligible as a voter in the upcoming BSKE, you need to be a Filipino citizen of at least 15 years of age on or before October 30, 2023.

Voters aged 15 to 17 years old will elect a chairperson and 7 councilors for the Sangguniang Kabataan. Meanwhile, voters aged 18 years old and above will vote for a barangay captain and 7 barangay kagawad.

Aside from voter registration, Filipinos can also (1) transfer their voter registration record; (2) reactivate their voting status; or (3) make corrections or changes in their voter registration record (e.g. change to married name).

What to bring

If you’re planning to get registered as a voter, you need to bring a government-issued valid ID, such as a National ID, passport, driver’s license, NBI clearance, SSS/GSIS ID or UMID card, Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID, PRC license, Senior Citizen’s ID, PWD ID, or Indigenous Peoples Certificate from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

For students who don’t have any of the above, you may present their valid school ID.

For others who don’t have any IDs mentioned above, you may apply with a barangay certification with your picture, address, and signature that proves you live in that particular barangay.

When and where to register

In all Comelec offices, voter registration is open until January 31, 2023, from Monday to Saturday starting 8 AM to 5 PM, including holidays.

Aside from its offices, Comelec is also introducing the Register Anywhere Project (RAP), a program that provides registrants an easier and more convenient location inside partner malls during the weekends. The RAP is being pilot tested during this registration period initially only five malls in Metro Manila, but has since been expanded to three other malls across the country, namely:

• SM Fairview, Quezon City
• SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City
• SM South Mall, Las Piñas City
• Robinsons Place Manila
• Robinsons Galleria, Quezon City
• Robinson’s Mall Tacloban, Barangay Baras Baras, Tacloban City
• SM City Legazpi, Imelda Roces Avenue, Zone 9, Barangay 37 Bitano, Legazpi City, Albay
• Robinson’s Mall Naga, Naga City, Camarines Sur

Filipinos can visit these malls every Saturday and Sunday until January 22, 2023.

RAP will also be available in other government sites such as the Senate in Pasay on January 25, 2023, and in the House of Representatives in Quezon City, and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Main Office in Pasay City with yet-to-be-determined dates.

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