COMELEC Urges Last-Minute Voters as Only 3 Days Remain Before May 18 Deadline

With only three days remaining before the May 18 deadline, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) continued voter registration operations nationwide from Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., urging qualified Filipinos to complete their registration for the upcoming elections.

COMELEC called on first-time voters, individuals with deactivated records, transferees, and registrants seeking corrections in personal information to process their applications before the cutoff date, as no extension has been announced as of writing.

Applicants are required to present at least one valid identification card bearing their photograph and signature. Accepted IDs include government-issued and school IDs, while community tax certificates and police clearances are not considered valid for registration.

Under election rules, registrants must be Filipino citizens, at least 18 years old on or before Election Day, residents of the Philippines for at least one year, and residents of the locality where they intend to vote for at least six months.

Several registration centers reported increasing turnout and long queues as the deadline approached, prompting election officials to advise applicants to visit registration sites early to avoid congestion and delays.

COMELEC emphasized that voter registration remains a vital part of democratic participation, enabling citizens to exercise their right to vote and take part in selecting national and local leaders in the next elections.