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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT  
AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO USE AND 
IMPLEMENT AN AUTOMATED AND ONLINE SYSTEM FOR VOTER 
REGISTRATION, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Suffrage, or the right to vote, is the hallmark of a vibrant democracy. 
It is through which that the people, in their sovereign capacity and will, 
vest upon their chosen few the power, duty, and privilege to serve and 
govern. The right of suffrage, however, is a franchise subject to State 
regulation. While it lies in the heart of a truly democratic State, its exercise 
is conditioned on the fulfilment of a procedural limitation—that of 
registration. The seemingly lengthy and tedious processes involved in 
voter registration however may prove to be a deterrent for many from 
registering as voters or updating their registration records. As we herald 
the Fourth Industrial Revolution, technological advancements and 
innovations present an abundant opportunity for the State to address this 
issue by lending more efficiency, economy, and accessibility to voter 
registration processes.  
This bill seeks to take advantage of these technological advances 
by mandating the Commission on Elections to, as far as practicable, 
adopt, design and use an automated and online system for voter 
October 25, 2022
8:30 am
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registration that enables the electronic and online filing and processing of 
the application for voter registration, transfer of registration, reactivation, 
correction of voter registration entries and such other requests and 
processes relative to the voter’s registration and records.   
 
Indeed, a more convenient, efficient, and accessible registration 
process encourages more people to register. This further increases the 
possibility 
of 
higher 
voter 
participation 
and 
prevent 
voter 
disenfranchisement in the elections because there is nothing healthier for 
a democratic state than to have citizens who are informed, actively 
participating in its democratic processes, and truly engaged in charting 
the course of its destiny. 
 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is 
earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT  
AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS TO USE AND 
IMPLEMENT AN AUTOMATED AND ONLINE SYSTEM FOR VOTER 
REGISTRATION, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
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Philippines in Congress assembled:  
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SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Online 
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Voter Registration Act.” 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to 
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establish a system of registration that ensures and guarantees a clean, 
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complete, permanent, and updated list of voters. To encourage and 
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ensure a continuing system of voter registration, the State shall adopt and 
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make use of technologies that shall facilitate and allow the automated and 
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online registration of voters, taking into account the integrity, 
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completeness, and accuracy of the list of voters.  
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SEC. 3. Automated and Online Voter Registration System. – 
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The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) shall, as far as practicable, 
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adopt, design, and use an automated and online system for voter 
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registration that enables the electronic and online filing and processing 
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of the application for voter registration, transfer of registration, 
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reactivation, correction of voter registration entries, and such other 
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requests and processes relative to the voter’s registration and records.  
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The COMELEC shall also endeavor to use the same automated 
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and online system for the verification and approval of application for voter 
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registration, transfer of registration, reactivation, correction of voter 
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registration entries, and such other requests and processes relative to 
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the voter’s registration and records as may be practicable, bearing in 
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mind the State’s policy of ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the 
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voters list and records. 
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SEC. 4. Automated and Online Verification. – Where online 
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verification of the application or request is not feasible in the meantime, 
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the system shall nonetheless allow the applicant to submit his or her 
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application or request through the COMELEC’s online platform. The 
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same application and the information contained therein, including the 
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demographics of the applicant, shall be processed electronically and 
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shall be automatically stored in the COMELEC database for pending 
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voter registration application or requests.  
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The system shall promptly provide the applicant with complete and 
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detailed information as to the steps required to complete the application 
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or request.  
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SEC. 5. Personal Filing. – The automated and online filing of 
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application for voter registration shall not preclude the personal filing of 
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applications for registration, transfer of registration, reactivation, 
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correction of voter registration entries, and such other requests, which 
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shall continue to be available and conducted in the office of the Election 
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Officer during office hours. 
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SEC. 6. Automated and Electronic Notice of Approval or 
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Disapproval. – The automated and electronic system of voter 
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registration shall include a feature that automatically informs the 
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applicant of the successful submission of his or her application or 
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request. The system shall provide detailed instructions on how the 
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applicant may follow up or complete the application for registration or 
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requests, the estimated time to complete the processing of the 
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application or request, details on the notice of approval or disapproval of 
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the application and requests, further remedies available in case of 
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disapproval, and such other information necessary to promptly assist the 
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applicant with his or her application or request. 
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SEC. 7. Secure Internet Website and Online Platforms. – The 
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COMELEC shall design, devise, adopt, or otherwise use a secure 
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Internet Website or online platform where such applications may be filed 
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by voters and/or applicants. Security measures shall be put in place to 
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protect and guarantee the completeness, accuracy, and integrity of voter 
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registration forms, applications, and information submitted and filed 
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through such Internet Website or online platform. 
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SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The 
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COMELEC, in coordination with the appropriate government agencies, 
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including the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the 
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Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), 
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and in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall promulgate the 
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implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) from the effectivity 
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of this Act.  
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SEC. 9. Appropriation. – The amount necessary for the effective 
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implementation of this Act shall be included in the budget of the 
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COMELEC in the annual General Appropriations Act.  
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SEC. 10. Separability Clause. – Any portion or provisions of this 
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Act that may be declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the 
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effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as long as such 
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remaining portions or provisions can still subsist and be given effect in 
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their entirety. 
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SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, 
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executive orders, memoranda, circulars, rules and regulations, and 
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other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, 
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are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
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days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
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newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved,
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