“At last! I’m a registered voter!”

QUEZON City, Philippines (October 15) – Being a first time voter, you surely have that feeling of excitement and curiosity on how it feels like to go to the precinct, how to vote and how does it feel to see the indelible ink in your index finger. But of course, to fully experience what voting feels like, it is a must that you should first register yourself as a voter in the nearest COMELEC office in your town. Remember that you have to appear personally at the office of Election Officer for you to register.

As a teenager, and a first time voter 3 years ago, I remember myself getting prepared for the registration, I prepared the things that I need especially the valid ID that has to be presented for identity verification purposes. I even woke up early just to not be late because I thought there might be a long line up of registrants there. As I arrived in the COMELEC office around 6 in the morning, I found out that I am too early for the registration. But it is still good that I came early because when the COMELEC doors opened I am the first one to register that day and when I came out of the office, I saw a very long row of registrants.

During the process of registration, the COMELEC officer verified my status using a computer application at the OEO that can also be done using the on-line Precinct Finder facility in the comelec.gov.ph website. After the status verification the COMELEC Officer gave me three pieces of application form [1A form]. Just to give you an idea, the 1A form is the only form that may be downloaded in the COMELEC website, because there are other forms in the COMELEC that should be given directly in their office. Filling up of the application can also be done online and is printable. A friendly reminder, you should print 3 copies of the application form with your answers on it to eliminate the need for writing it  all over again. Also, said form should only be signed and thumbmarked before an Election Officer.

After completely filling up the application, I proceed to the biometrics capturing. Biometrics is the measuring and analyzing of your biological data or your human body characteristics particularly your fingerprints. Just to boost your imagination regarding this biometrics thing, this is when you place your thumb in a Voting Registration Machine which, I believe is like a RFID scanner. It is just like doing a thumbmark in a hi-tech way! Sounds cool right? So, yep, I proceeded to the biometrics capturing using the VRM and was assisted by an authorized VRM Operator.After getting my biometrics done, an acknowledgement receipt – which is a stub that was torn from my application form –  that contains my whole name, my application number and is approved by the Election Registration Board was given to me afterwards.

Upon completing the registration process, voila! I can proudly say that I am a registered voter of the Republic of the Philippines! That process actually made my registration experience exciting!

Just a friendly reminder, If you are thinking of not registering yourself as a voter, and is planning not to vote, please bear in mind that you are placing your welfare in the hands of someone else. Remember that voting is your right and you should always take that as an opportunity to shout your freedom aloud using a pen!

Before we end this topic let me just remind you that if you are a current voter, and you want to know if your biometrics are updated, I personally suggest that you should got to the COMELEC website given below for more details and also for verification purposes.

http://www.comelec.gov.ph/

Sources:

http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/biometrics

http://www.comelec.gov.ph/?r=VoterRegistration/GeneralInfo/RegistrationProcedures

http://www.comelec.gov.ph/?r=Archives/RegularElections/2013NLE/VoterRegistration/Forms

https://www.techopedia.com/definition/26992/radio-frequency-identification-reader-rfid-reader

(written by Joana Joyce Tan Marcaida, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Lovely Ann Cruz)