Comelec stops voter certificate issuance

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered its field offices to suspend the issuance of voter certifications or voter registration records on Sept. 30, the last day of the registration period for next year’s polls.

In Resolution 11066, the Commission said the temporary suspension is in anticipation of the influx of applicants for the last day of voter registration.

It added that the suspension would allow all the Office of the Election Officer (OEO) to “cater to all applicants in their area of jurisdiction and to maintain orderliness during the last day of voter registration.”

“The Commission en banc, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, the Administrative Code of 1987 and other relevant statutes, hereby resolves to suspend the issuance of voter certifications/voter registration records on Sept. 30 in all OEOs nationwide,” the Comelec said.

As an option, the Comelec said registered voters in the National Capital Region who need a certificate could file a request at the Election Records and Statistics Department of its central office in Intramuros, Manila.

The voter’s certification, which is issued upon the request of a registered voter, can serve as temporary voter’s ID card.