Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, AND 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The right of suffrage, enshrined in Article V, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, 
affirms that eligible citizens may freely exercise their vote in accordance with established 
residence and duration requirements. This constitutional guarantee underscores voting as a 
protected and essential pillar of democracy. 
Amid the administration’s drive toward a digitally empowered government, President 
Marcos Jr.’s 2025 SONA reaffirmed the commitment to expand digital transformation across 
all government services, emphasizing accessibility, efficiency, and transparency.1 In line with 
this national vision, modernizing electoral registration is both timely and necessary. 
The existing law, Republic Act 8189, or the “Voter Registration Act of 1996” requires 
physical presence and manual paper submission for voter registration – an outdated and often 
burdensome process for many Filipinos, including overseas citizens, persons with disabilities, 
and those in remote locations. 
This legislation proposes amendments to institutionalize a secure, interoperable, and 
user-friendly online voter registration system under COMELEC. By introducing digital 
registration platforms and utilizing safe identity verification processes, the measure supports 
wider voter participation, reduces administrative bottlenecks, and aligns electoral processes 
with modern governance standards. 
A similar proposal was approved on third reading and transmitted to the Senate during 
the 19th Congress, underscoring broad recognition of the need to transition toward digital 
voter registration.2 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
1 State of the Nation Philippines. (2025, July 28). SONA 2025: Digital transformation and public service modernization. 
https://stateofthenation.gov.ph/sona/2025/ 
2 Presidential Communications Office. (2023, July 25). PBBM orders immediate digitalization of vital government services to 
boost ease of doing business, combat corruption. https://pco.gov.ph/news_releases/pbbm-orders-immediate-digitalization-of-
vital-government-services-to-boost-ease-of-doing-business-combat-corruption/ 
August 14, 2025
2:10 pm
3746


HON. VINCENZO RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE 
HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, AND 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PROCEDURE FOR REGISTRATION OF VOTERS AND 
ADOPTING A SYSTEM OF ONLINE REGISTRATION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
SECTIONS 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 22, 23, 24, 29, 32, 33 AND 45 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
8189, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “VOTER’S REGISTRATION ACT OF 1996”  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1.  Section 2 of Republic Act No. 8189, otherwise known as “The Voter’s 
Registration Act of 1996”, is hereby amended to read as follows:  
“SEC. 2.  Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to [systematize the present 
method of registration in order to establish a clean, complete, permanent, and updated 
list of voters] ESTABLISH A SYSTEM OF REGISTRATION THAT ENSURES AND 
GUARANTEES A CLEAN, COMPLETE, PERMANENT, AND UPDATED LIST OF 
VOTERS.  TO ENCOURAGE AND ENSURE A CONTINUING SYSTEM OF VOTER 
REGISTRATION, 
THE 
STATE 
SHALL 
ADOPT 
AND 
MAKE 
USE 
OF 
TECHNOLOGIES THAT SHALL FACILITATE AND ALLOW THE AUTOMATED 
AND ONLINE REGISTRATION OF VOTERS AS AN OPTION, TAKING INTO 
ACCOUNT THE INTEGRITY, COMPLETENESS, AND ACCURACY OF THE LIST 
OF VOTERS.” 
SECTION 2.  Section 3 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
(a) Registration refers to the act of accomplishing and filing of a sworn application for
registration by a qualified voter ONLINE OR before the election officer of the city or
municipality wherein [he] THE APPLICANT resides and including the same in the book
of registered voters upon approval by the Election Registration Board.
REGISTRATION LIKEWISE REFERS TO OTHER PROCESSES ATTENDANT TO
BEING A QUALIFIED VOTER SUCH AS THE REACTIVATION OF VOTER
REGISTRATION RECORDS, TRANSFER OF VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS,
AND CORRECTION OF ENTRIES THEREIN.
X  X  X 
3746


 
 
(n) Election Officer refers to the highest official or authorized representative of the 
Commission in a city or municipality; [and] 
 
(o) Board of Election Inspectors refers to the body which conducts the election in the 
polling place of the precinct usually composed of three (3) public school teachers 
appointed by the Commission[,]; AND 
 
(P) DISINTERESTED WITNESS REFERS TO A REGISTERED VOTER IN THE 
SAME BARANGAY WHERE THE APPLICANT SEEKS TO REGISTER AND WHO 
RESIDES THEREAT, ATTESTING TO A CERTAIN FACT, THE IDENTITY, 
PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND RESIDENCE OF THE APPLICANT, BUT HAS 
NO PERSONAL ADVANTAGE OR DISADVANTAGE ON THE APPROVAL OR 
DISAPPROVAL 
OF 
THE 
APPLICANT'S 
VOTER 
REGISTRATION. 
A 
DISINTERESTED WITNESS SHOULD NOT BE RELATED TO THE APPLICANT 
WITHIN THE FOURTH (4TH) CIVIL DEGREE OF CONSANGUINITY OR AFFINITY: 
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NO DISINTERESTED WITNESS SHALL BE 
ALLOWED TO IDENTIFY MORE THAN THREE (3) APPLICANTS." 
 
SECTION 3. Section 8 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
"SEC. 8. System of Continuing Registration of Voters. – The personal OR 
ELECTRONIC filing of application [of] FOR registration of voters shall be conducted 
daily in the office of the Election Officer during regular office hours [.] OR THROUGH 
THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE COMMISSION. No registration shall, however, be 
conducted [during the period starting] WITHIN one hundred twenty (120) days before 
a regular election and ninety (90) days before a special election." 
 
SECTION 4. Section 9 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
"SEC. 9. Who may register. – All citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified 
by law who are at least eighteen (18) years of age, and who shall have resided in the 
Philippines for at least one (1) year, and in the [place] BARANGAY wherein they 
propose to vote, for at least six (6) months immediately preceding the election, may 
register as a voter [.]: PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT A PERSON SHALL BE 
ALLOWED TO REGISTER BY PRESENTING ANY VALID PROOF OF RESIDENCE, 
SUCH AS THE FOLLOWING: 
 
A. TAX DECLARATION OR PROOF OF PAYMENT OF REAL PROPERTY TAX, 
OR A CERTIFICATION FROM THE LANDOWNER OR LESSOR OF 
RESIDENTIAL UNIT, APARTMENT, CONDOMINIUM, DORMITORY OR 
SIMILAR DWELLING UNITS WHERE THE APPLICANT IS RESIDING AT THE 
TIME OF REGISTRATION; 
 
B. A RECENT HOUSEHOLD UTILITY BILL FOR GAS, ELECTRIC, WATER, 
TELEPHONE, CABLE, OR INTERNET CONSUMPTION, OR A STATEMENT OF 
ACCOUNT FOR MOBILE PHONE SUBSCRIPTION OR CREDIT CARD, UNDER 
THE APPLICANT'S NAME; 
 
C. AFFIDAVIT OF AT LEAST TWO DISINTERESTED WITNESSES AS DEFINED 
IN SECTION 3 OF THIS ACT THAT THE APPLICANT IS A RESIDENT OF THE 
PLACE OF REGISTRATION; OR 
 
D. OTHER COMPETENT PROOFS OF RESIDENCE DECIDED UPON AND 
PROMULGATED BY THE COMMISSION. 


 
 
Any person who temporarily resides in another [city, municipality] BARANGAY or 
ANOTHER country solely by reason of [his] ONE'S occupation, profession, 
employment in private or public service, educational activities, work in the military or 
naval reservations within the Philippines, service in the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines, the National Police Forces, or confinement or detention in government 
institutions in accordance with law, shall not be deemed to have lost [his] THE original 
residence. 
 
x  x  x" 
 
SECTION 5. Section 10 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
"SEC. 10. Registration of Voters. – A qualified voter shall be registered in the 
permanent list of voters in a precinct of the city or municipality [wherein he] WHERE 
THE VOTER resides to be able to vote in any election. To register as a voter, [he] THE 
APPLICANT shall personally OR ELECTRONICALLY accomplish an application form 
for registration as prescribed by the Commission [in three (3) copies before the Election 
Officer] AND PERSONALLY SUBMIT THE ACCOMPLISHED FORM TO THE OFFICE 
OF THE ELECTION OFFICER OF THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY WHERE THE 
VOTER RESIDES on any date during office hours, OR THROUGH THE OFFICIAL 
WEBSITE OF THE COMMISSION [after having acquired the qualifications of a voter]. 
 
x  x  x 
 
The application for registration [shall contain three (3) specimen signatures of the 
applicant, clear and legible rolled prints of his left and right thumbprints, with four (4) 
identification size copies of his latest photograph, attached thereto, to be taken at the 
expense of the Commission] MAY BE SUBMITTED PERSONALLY OR 
ELECTRONICALLY AND SHALL BE PROCESSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10367 ENTITLED "AN ACT PROVIDING FOR MANDATORY 
BIOMETRICS VOTER REGISTRATION" AT THE EXPENSE OF THE COMMISSION. 
 
Before the applicant accomplishes [his] THE application for registration, the Election 
Officer shall inform [him] THE APPLICANT of the qualifications and disqualifications 
prescribed by law for a voter, and thereafter, see to it that the accomplished application 
contains all the data therein required and that the applicant's specimen signatures, 
fingerprints, and photographs are properly affixed in [all copies of] the voter's 
application. 
 
IN CASE OF ONLINE SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION BY 
AN APPLICANT, THE COMMISSION SHALL SEND A NOTICE CONFIRMING ITS 
RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION AND PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW THE 
APPLICANT MAY CHECK THE STATUS OF THE APPLICATION. 
 
FURTHERMORE, THE COMMISSION SHALL EMPLOY DATA SECURITY 
MEASURES WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY AND 
INTEGRITY OF ELECTRONICALLY SUBMITTED VOTER REGISTRATION 
APPLICATION.” 
 
SECTION 6. Section 12 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
"SEC. 12. Change of Residence to another [City or Municipality] BARANGAY. – Any 
registered voter who has transferred residence to another [city or municipality] 
BARANGAY may apply with the Election Officer of [his] THE CITY OR 


 
MUNICIPALITY IN WHICH THE VOTER'S new residence IS LOCATED for the 
transfer of [his] THE VOTER'S registration records. 
 
NO TRANSFER OF A VOTER'S REGISTRATION TO ANOTHER BARANGAY 
SHALL BE ALLOWED WITHIN ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120) DAYS BEFORE A 
REGULAR ELECTION AND NINETY (90) DAYS BEFORE A SPECIAL ELECTION. 
 
The application for transfer of registration shall be subject to the requirements of notice 
and hearing and the approval of the Election Registration Board, in accordance with 
this Act. Upon approval of the application for transfer, and after notice of such approval 
to the Election Officer of the former residence of the voter, said Election Officer shall 
transmit by registered mail OR OTHER MODES OF SAFE, SECURE AND FAST 
TRANSMISSION the voter's registration record to the Election Officer of the voter's 
new residence." 
 
SECTION 7. Section 13 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
"SEC. 13. Change of Address [in the same city or municipality]. – Any voter who has 
changed [his] address [in the same city or municipality] WHICH SHALL NOT FALL 
UNDER A CHANGE IN BARANGAY AS PROVIDED FOR UNDER SECTION 12 OF 
THIS ACT shall immediately notify the Election Officer in writing. If the change of 
address involves a change in precinct, the Board shall transfer [his] THE registration 
record to the [precinct] book of voters of [his] THE registration record to the [precinct] 
book of voters of [his] THE new precinct and notify the voter of [his] THE new precinct. 
All changes of address shall be reported to the office of the provincial election 
supervisor and the Commission in Manila." 
 
SECTION 8. Section 22 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
"SEC. 22. Preservation of Voter's Registration Records. – The Election Officer shall 
compile the [original] copies of the approved applications for registration per precinct, 
[and] arrange the same alphabetically according to surname [. He shall] AND preserve 
the book of voters and ensure its integrity. [The second and third copies of the 
registration records] THE COPY OF THE APPROVED APPLICATION FOR 
REGISTRATION SHALL BE SCANNED BY THE ELECTION OFFICER AND THE 
SCANNED COPY shall be sent to the provincial and national central files within [three 
(3)] FIVE (5) days after the approval of the Board. 
 
ALL APPROVED APPLICATIONS FILED DURING THE REGISTRATION PERIOD 
IN THE LOCAL VOTER'S DATABASE SHALL BE EXTRACTED AND STORED IN 
A UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS (USB) OR OTHER STORAGE DEVICES AND SENT 
TO THE APPROPRIATE OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION SUPERVISOR 
AND 
TO 
THE 
INFORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
THE 
COMMISSION." 
 
SECTION 9. Section 23 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
"SEC. 23. Provincial File. – There shall be a provincial file consisting of the [duplicate] 
SCANNED copies of all registration records in each precinct of every city and 
municipality in the province. It shall be in the custody of the Provincial Election 
Supervisor and shall be compiled and arranged by precinct, by municipality and 
alphabetically by surnames of voters. 
 
x  x  x" 
 


 
SECTION 10. Section 24 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
"SEC. 24. National Central File. – There shall be a national central file under the 
custody of the Commission in Manila consisting of the [third] SCANNED copies of all 
approved voter registration records in each city or municipality. It shall be compiled by 
precinct in each city [ / ] OR municipality and arranged alphabetically by DATE OF 
BOARD HEARING [surname so as to make the file replica of the book of voters in the 
possession of the Election Officer. Thereafter a national list shall be prepared following 
the alphabetical arrangements of surnames of voters]. 
 
[There shall be a national file consisting of the computerized voters' list (CVL), both in 
print and in diskette,] A COMPLETE FILE OF ALL REGISTERED VOTERS SHALL 
BE submitted by the Election Officers [in] OF each city and municipality [concerned, 
under the custody of] TO the Commission in Manila [.] WHICH SHALL KEEP COPIES 
OF THESE FILES IN ITS COMPUTERIZED DATABASE AND PRINTED RECORDS, 
AND EXERCISE CUSTODIAL RESPONSIBILITY OVER THEM. 
 
x  x  x 
 
SECTION 11. Section 29 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
"SEC. 29. Cancellation of Registration. – The Board shall cancel the registration 
records of those who have died as certified by the [Local Civil Registrar] THE 
PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY (PSA) ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. THE 
PROCESSING FEES OF THE QUARTERLY CERTIFIED LIST OF PERSONS WHO 
DIED AS REQUESTED BY THE COMMISSION TO PSA SHALL BE WAIVED. The 
[Local Civil Registrar] PSA shall submit each month a certified list of persons who died 
during the previous month to the Election Officer of the place where the deceased are 
registered. In the absence of information concerning the place where the deceased 
are registered, the list shall be sent to the Election Officer of the city or municipality of 
the deceased's residence as appearing in [his] THE death certificate. In any case, the 
[Local Civil Registrar] PSA shall furnish a copy of this list to the national central file and 
the proper provincial file. 
 
THE PSA SHALL ENSURE THAT ITS DATA PRIVACY NOTICE SUFFICIENTLY 
INFORMS AFFECTED PARTIES THAT THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS TO 
BE PROCESSED AND SHARED WITH THE COMMISSION TO ENABLE THE 
LATTER TO FULFILL ITS CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE TO INITIATE VOTER 
INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION PROCEEDINGS AND TO ESTABLISH A CLEAN, 
COMPLETE, PERMANENT, AND UPDATED LIST OF VOTERS UNDER THIS ACT, 
AND AS ALLOWED BY SECTION 12(E) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10173, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE DATA PRIVACY ACT OF 2012. 
 
x  x  x” 
 
SECTION 12. Section 32 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
"SEC. 32. Common Rules Governing Judicial Proceedings in the Matter of Inclusion, 
Exclusion, and Correction of Names of Voters. - 
 
x  x  x 
 
(d) No cost[s] shall be assessed against any party in these proceedings. However, if 
the court should find that the application has been filed solely to harass [the adverse 
party] and cause [him] THE ADVERSE PARTY to incur expenses, it shall order the 


 
culpable party to pay the costs and incidental expenses. NO COST SHALL LIKEWISE 
BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE COMMISSION WHEN IT FILES A PETITION FOR 
EXCLUSION; 
 
x  x  x" 
 
SECTION 13. Section 33 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
"SEC. 33. Jurisdiction in Inclusion and Exclusion Case. – The Municipal and 
Metropolitan Trial Courts shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases of 
inclusion and exclusion of voters in their respective cities or municipalities[,]: 
PROVIDED, THAT WHEN THE COMMISSION IS THE PETITIONER OF A CASE ON 
EXCLUSION OF VOTERS, FILING AND OTHER COURT FEES SHALL BE 
WAIVED. Decisions of the Municipal or Metropolitan Trial Courts may be appealed by 
the aggrieved party to the Regional Trial Court within five (5) days from receipt of notice 
thereof. Otherwise, said decision shall become final and executory. The regional trial 
court shall decide the appeal within ten (10) days from the time it is received and the 
decision shall immediately become final and executory. No motion for reconsideration 
shall be entertained. 
 
SECTION 14. Section 45 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
"SEC. 45. Election Offenses. – The following shall be considered election offenses 
under this Act: 
 
x  x  x 
 
(i) The posting of a list of voters outside or at the door of a precinct on the day of an 
election, plebiscite, referendum, initiative and/or recall, and which list is different in 
contents from the certified list of voters being used by the Board of Election Inspectors; 
[and] 
 
(i) [Violation of the provisions of this Act] THE TRANSFER OF A VOTER'S 
REGISTRATION OF RESIDENCE CONTRARY TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 
12 OF THIS ACT; AND 
 
(K) VIOLATION OF ANY OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT. 
 
SECTION 15. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this 
Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Commission on Elections. 
Thereafter, such amount shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Commission on Elections, in consultation with the Department of 
Information and Communications Technology, Department of Science and Technology, 
Department of the Interior and Local Government, National Commission for Senior Citizens, 
and other stakeholders shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
 
SECTION 17. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to 
be in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 18. Repealing Clause. – Act No. 2137, otherwise known as the Warehouse 
Receipts Law, is hereby repealed. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 


 
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with any 
provision of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 19. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,