The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will open more special registration sites across the country to make it easier for Filipinos to register without having to go to local poll offices.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said the ‘Register Anywhere Program,’ which allows applicants to register at select locations regardless of their residence, will soon be implemented in all highly urbanized cities and capital towns nationwide.
‘We hope our fellow Filipinos take advantage of this while lines are still short. Please don’t wait for the last minute because we don’t extend these types of registration periods,’ Garcia told reporters in a chance interview at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).
Garcia, who personally visited the PITX registration site, said Comelec will also open additional sites in airports, hospitals, and data centers that will operate beyond regular hours to accommodate those working night shifts.
Aside from new voter applications, the special registration sites will also process reactivation, transfer, record updates, and even free issuance of voter’s certifications.
The poll chief reminded registrants to bring at least one government-issued ID-excluding police clearances, barangay certificates, and cedulas.
‘Any valid government-issued ID, even a student or senior citizen ID, will do as long as it clearly shows proof of identity and residence,’ he added.
Beyond these special registration sites, local Comelec offices will also continue accepting applications until May 18, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays.
Garcia said the ongoing registration period, which runs for nearly seven months, is expected to add at least 1.4 million new voters for next year’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
He added that Comelec’s 2026 budget already accounts for a potential increase in registrants.
‘We believe the number of precincts we have proposed is sufficient, since not all will be filled. We can assign new voters either to newly created precincts or to existing ones with available space,’ he explained.
BARMM residents still excluded
Garcia reiterated that the voter registration rollout does not include the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
However, he said Comelec will still accept applications from BARMM residents at special registration sites, though these will only be processed at a later date.
‘If you happen to register at a special site and you’re from Bangsamoro, we will still accept your application. But Comelec will not yet take action to approve or disapprove it,’ he clarified.
According to Garcia, applications from Bangsamoro voters will likely be processed by the Election Registration Board around May, once the region’s parliamentary elections-expected to be held no later than March 31, 2026-have concluded.
Comelec earlier said voter registration in BARMM will resume only after the parliamentary elections, as only those already registered for the May 2025 midterm polls will be allowed to vote for parliament.