A First-Time Voter’s Guide to the 2022 Philippine Elections

A quick guide for first-time voters to better understand how the voting system in the Philippines works.

2022 Elections

There are about 67.5 million registered Filipino voters in this year’s elections, 65.7 million of which are domestic while the remaining 1.8 million are based overseas. The 2022 elections will be happening on May 9 wherein executive and legislative posts will be elected at the national, provincial, and local levels.

The posts to be elected in the office this year include the president, vice president, senators, members of the House of Representatives from district and party-list groups, members of provincial boards, provincial governors and vice governors, mayors and vice-mayors of cities and municipalities, and councilors.

Take note that you can only vote one for each House of Representatives, mayor, vice mayor, party list, and a maximum of 12 candidates for senator.

Role of the Commission on Elections (Comelec)

The Comelec was appointed by the Constitution to serve as the watchdog over electoral processes. As the principal government agency, its primary

responsibility is to mandate laws and regulations on elections, plebiscites, initiatives, referendums, and recalls.

Earlier this year, the Comelec started printing the automated ballots to be used for the national and local elections, while manual ballots were also produced for overseas voters.

How to Register to Vote

For first-time voters, you can apply on various Comelec satellite registration sites near you. You may visit your city hall or verify on Comelec’s official website or Facebook page for booking system appointments.

As mandated by the law, you must be a Filipino citizen, at least 18 years old, and a resident in the Philippines for one year and six months.

Prior to your appointment date, make sure to print and fill out the necessary forms. Don’t forget to bring a photocopy of your valid identification card (ID). This includes any of the following:

1. Driver’s license

2. Passport

3. SSS/GSIS ID/ UMID

4. Postal ID

5. PWD Discount ID

6. Senior Citizen’s ID

7. NBI clearance

8. Employee’s ID (with employer’s signature or authorized representative)

9. Student’s ID or library card, signed by the school authority

10. Integrated Bar of the Philippine (IBP) ID

11. License issued by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC)

12. Certificate of Confirmation issued by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in case of members of ICCs or IPs

Upon registration, an electoral officer will review the accuracy of information in your form and will ask you to affix your digital signature, fingerprints, and take your photo.

Since the registration time may take up to two hours, we recommend bringing bottled water to stay hydrated and your own ballpen too. After the whole registration process, a COMELEC personnel will give you a stub from the CEF-1 form that will serve as your receipt for voting.

Voting Day

Polling precincts open from 6 AM to 6 PM but voting hours may extend due to long queues. To know more, here are some important do’s and don’ts you should remember before or during the election day.

Do’s:

1. Make a list of the candidates you plan to vote for, so as to avoid stray marks on your ballot.

2. Bring water to keep hydrated while waiting in line.

3. Voters or persons with disabilities may bring a companion to help them vote.

4. Check your name at the polling place to know your designated precinct. There are select areas that use Comelec’s new voter registration verification machine (VRVM) via fingerprint scanning to identify voter’s identity.

Don’ts:

1. Using your mobile phone to take a photo of your ballot is an election offense.

2. Voting at the wrong polling precinct.

3. Bringing campaign materials of the candidate you are voting for is not allowed.

4. Voting for more candidates than is required will only invalidate your ballot.

During the voting, a ballot, ballot secrecy folder, and marking pen will be provided by the board of elections inspectors (BEI). After voting, keep your ballot inside the folder. Once it's your turn, insert it into the machine and wait until the machine has finished processing.

Before you leave the precinct, the poll clerk will mark your finger with ink to avoid electoral fraud or double voting.

Check and review your voting receipt if it matches the candidates you voted for. Otherwise, you may ask the BEI to help you with your concern. Finally, you can take a photo of your inked finger outside the polling place.