Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 681 
Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The right to vote is not only a privilege—it is a duty. It is the most direct and 
peaceful means by which the Filipino people express their collective will, choose their 
leaders, and shape the policies that govern their lives. To exercise suffrage is to take 
part in the building of a society that reflects our needs, our desires, and our aspirations 
as a people. 
And yet, despite the central role that suffrage plays in our democracy, millions 
of eligible Filipinos remain unregistered. As of the 2022 National and Local Elections, 
the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) recorded over 65 million registered voters, 
but it is estimated that 5 to 6 million eligible citizens were unable to vote due to lack of 
registration. A significant portion of these are young Filipinos who had just turned 18 
but did not register—often because of logistical barriers, lack of information, or 
distance from registration centers. 
This bill seeks to close that gap through a pragmatic reform: by allowing voter 
registration to be offered during ordinary interactions with government agencies. When 
a Filipino reaches the age of majority and transacts with agencies such as PhilHealth, 
Pag-IBIG, the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Philippine Statistics Authority 
(PSA), or the Social Security System (SSS), they shall be given the opportunity to 
register as a voter. 
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) shall coordinate with these 
agencies to establish secure and lawful procedures, including requirements to verify 
residency and ensure eligibility. The registration process shall remain voluntary, and 
all existing safeguards under the Voter’s Registration Act and election laws shall be 
preserved. 
This measure does not propose to replace traditional voter registration but 
rather to enhance it. It recognizes that we already have the infrastructure and moments 
July 1, 2025
8:00 am




Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 681 
Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING INTEGRATED AND ACCESSIBLE VOTER 
REGISTRATION THROUGH INTER-AGENCY COORDINATION, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:  
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "First Vote Act." 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to recognize the right of 
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all Filipino citizens to vote and to take all appropriate steps to make the exercise of 
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this right accessible, inclusive, and efficient. The State shall promote civic engagement 
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by facilitating voter registration at natural points of interaction between the citizen and 
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the government, especially upon reaching the age of majority. 
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SEC. 3. Optional Voter Registration Through Government Transactions. – Any 
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Filipino citizen who is at least eighteen (18) years of age and transacting with a 
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participating government agency shall be offered the option to register as a voter with 
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the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), subject to the provisions of this Act and 
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other applicable election laws. 
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SEC. 4. Participating Government Agencies. – The following agencies shall 
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coordinate with the COMELEC to enable optional voter registration for eligible citizens: 
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(a) Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth);
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(b) Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG);
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(c) Land Transportation Office (LTO);
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(d) Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
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(e) Social Security System (SSS);
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(f) Government Service Insurance System (GSIS);
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(g) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA);
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(h) Commission on Higher Education (CHED); 
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(i) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); and 
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(j) Such other agencies as may hereafter be designated by the COMELEC, in 
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consultation with concerned government offices, through rules and regulations. 
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SEC. 5. COMELEC Authority and Responsibilities. – The COMELEC shall: 
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(a) Establish systems and protocols for secure and verifiable voter registration in 
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coordination with participating agencies; 
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(b) Require such additional documents or information as may be necessary to 
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verify identity and residence; 
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(c) Ensure that registrations obtained through inter-agency coordination conform 
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to the requirements of the Voter’s Registration Act (Republic Act No. 8189) and 
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other applicable laws; 
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(d) Conduct periodic training and capacity-building for personnel of participating 
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agencies to assist in the implementation of this Act; 
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(e) Develop public education campaigns in cooperation with participating agencies 
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to inform citizens of their right and opportunity to register; and 
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(f) Submit an annual report to Congress on the implementation of this Act, 
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including data on registrants enrolled through inter-agency coordination and 
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any recommendations for policy or administrative improvements. 
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SEC. 6. Voluntary Nature of Registration. – Registration under this Act shall be 
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voluntary. No eligible person shall be compelled to register as a condition for obtaining 
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any government service or benefit. 
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SEC. 7. Data Privacy and Consent. – All personal data collected and processed 
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under this Act shall be handled in accordance with Republic Act No. 10173, or the 
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“Data Privacy Act of 2012.” The citizen’s express, written or digital consent shall be 
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required prior to the transfer of any personal information from a participating agency 
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to the COMELEC for the purpose of registration. 
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SEC. 8. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this 
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Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the COMELEC and 
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participating agencies. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued 
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implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from the 
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effectivity of this Act, the COMELEC, in consultation with the Department of 
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Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the National Privacy 
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Commission (NPC), and other relevant agencies, including but not limited to the 
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Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Civil Service 
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Commission (CSC), and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), 
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shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act. 
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SEC. 10. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared 
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unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of the Act shall not be affected thereby. 
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SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and 
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regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
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repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
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in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
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Approved,