The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has made it easier for Filipinos to register as voters at their convenience through satellite registration sites in various locations.

The hassle of long lines has been addressed, as Comelec now allows satellite registration in barangays, schools, malls, and other accessible locations. Online filing has also been introduced on a limited basis to handle reactivation and other related requests.

Dean Nilo Divina pointed out in his DAILY TRIBUNE column that the power of Filipinos over their own country does not start with casting a ballot during election season—it begins with voter registration. It starts the moment an individual declares their willingness to participate in societal matters and engage in economic, social, and political issues through the democratic voting system.

Divina highlighted two major electoral exercises taking place this year: elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

“Together, they will determine leadership at both the regional and grassroots levels of governance,” he said.

However, he emphasized that all requests for registration, reactivation, transfer, or correction of records are still carefully reviewed during hearings conducted by the Electoral Registration Board (ERB), which meets quarterly to consider and decide on these applications.

In areas outside BARMM, ERB hearings are scheduled after each registration period—on January 19, April 13, and June 1. For BARMM, the hearing is set for June 1, 2025. These hearings examine applications and determine whether to approve or deny them in accordance with due process.