Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila —INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Have you received summons from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding your voter application? Here’s what you need to know and do.
As the Comelec wrapped up its voters’ registration drive for the 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, it noted that the process does not end there for some registrations.
The Comelec explained that its Election Registration Board (ERB) issues summons to voter registrants when there are objections to their application.
Hence, the ERB needs to hear the respondent’s side to the petition.
Other details in the summons include a copy of the petition filed against you and the date of the hearing.
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The ERB advised those who received the summons to attend the hearing and submit evidence that you are a qualified voter in your area, such as valid IDs, proof of residency.
“Through the ERB hearing, this ensures the due process and your right to answer any opposition to your application as a voter,” Comelec said in advisory in Filipino.
In a separate post, the Comelec said that the ERB is composed of the election officer as the chairp and the highest official of a public school and local civil registrar as its members. It noted that an individual can’t be members of the ERB if they are related to an incumbent official up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity.
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List of disputes
Meanwhile, the poll body said that those who are planning to oppose the membership of one of the members of the ERB must file the petition within 10 days from the first day of the hearing of the Provincial Election Supervisor or Regional Election Director if they’re from Metro Manila, Davao City, Zamboanga City or Isabela City. They need to attach proof of service to the challenged member.
According to the Comelec Resolution No. 11191, the poll body sets July 20, 2026, as the last day to file a petition for exclusion of voters, as stated under the Section 35 of Republic Act No. 8189, or the Voters Registration Act, in line with the Electoral Reforms Act.
The Comelec received a total of 5,470,889 voter applications from October 20, 2025 to May 18, 2026. Of this figure, Region IV-A logged the highest number of registrations with 887,677.
Despite the overwhelming turnout of interested voters on the last day of registration, the poll body earlier said that it will not extend the registration drive.
However, it said that the process will resume in February 2027 just in time for the 2028 national elections. /cb
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