How to Replace Lost Voter's ID Philippines

How to Replace a Lost Voter’s ID in the Philippines

A comprehensive legal-procedure guide (updated July 2025)

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1. Why This Matters

A voter’s ID (or its present-day substitute, the COMELEC Voter’s Certification) is the primary proof that you are a duly registered elector under Republic Act No. 8189 (the “Voter’s Registration Act of 1996”). Losing it does not cancel your registration, but you will need an official replacement if you:

• need to transact with government offices or banks that still ask for it;
• must prove voter status for employment abroad or scholarship grants;
• wish to serve as poll watcher, member of the Electoral Board, or candidate’s agent;
• simply want personal peace of mind.

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2. Current Landscape: ID vs. Certification

Period	Documentary proof COMELEC issues	Key resolution / policy
1997 – 2016	PVC Voter’s ID card with hologram	Initial implementation of RA 8189
Dec 2016 – present	Voter’s Certification (print-on-demand, dry-sealed) – ID printing suspended nationwide under COMELEC Resolution No. 10196 (Dec 16 2016) while waiting for full rollout of PhilSys National ID

Take-away: As of July 2025, you will receive a Voter’s Certification, not a new plastic ID. If you still possess an old PVC card, it remains valid; lost cards, however, are no longer re-printed.

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3. Legal Bases for Replacement

1. RA 8189, §§ 11-14 – empowers the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to issue, re-issue, or cancel voter IDs.
2. COMELEC Resolution No. 9853 (2013) – details biometrics capture; replacement requires existing biometrics.
3. COMELEC Resolution No. 10196 (2016) – suspends ID printing; authorises certifications as functional equivalents.
4. Data Privacy Act of 2012 – governs safeguarding of biometrics and personal data.
5. COMELEC Minute Resolution No. 19-0411 (2019) – sets ₱75 certification fee and enumerates fee-exempt sectors.

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4. Who May Apply

You are eligible if all of the following are true:

• Your voter record is “Active” in the Registration Verification System (RVS).
• COMELEC already holds your biometrics (photo, fingerprints, signature) OR you can re-capture them on site.
• There is no pending exclusion, inclusion, or transfer case involving your registration.

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5. Documentary Requirements

Document	Notes
1. Notarised Affidavit of Loss	State the circumstances (when, where, how lost); include full name, birth date, precinct no. Notarisation may be done before a notary public or Election Officer (EO) acting ex officio.
2. One valid government-issued ID	Passport, UMID, PhilSys Card, Driver’s License, Postal ID, etc. If all IDs were lost or stolen, present barangay certification plus two disinterested witnesses.
3. Photocopy of the lost voter ID (if available)	Speeds up verification but not mandatory.
4. Filled-out CEF-1D (Application for Replacement) and/or CEF-11 (Request for Certification)	Forms are free at the Office of the Election Officer (OEO).

Special cases – Overseas Filipino Voters (OFVs) must file at Philippine embassies/consulates using form OVF 1C and attach an Affidavit of Loss executed under local consular rules.

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6. Step-by-Step Procedure (Local Voter)

Stage	What happens	Time
A. Personal appearance	Go to your OEO (municipal/city COMELEC office) any working day, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; some offices open Saturdays during registration.	–
B. Validation & biometrics	Staff checks your record; if biometrics are incomplete/blurred, they will re-capture photo, fingerprints, and digital signature.	5-10 min
C. Submit documents	Hand in Affidavit of Loss, ID, completed form(s).	5 min
D. Pay certification fee	₱75 (cash) per COMELEC Minute Res. 19-0411. Fee waived for: Senior Citizens, Persons with Disabilities (PWD), Indigenous Peoples (IP), Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL), and those claiming indigence (must present barangay certificate of indigency).	2 min
E. Issuance	Most NCR and highly urbanized cities issue the Voter’s Certification on the same visit (thermal paper, QR code, dry seal). Elsewhere, the EO gives a claim stub; return after 1–3 working days.	10–15 min

Tip: Check your precinct status beforehand via COMELEC’s Precinct Finder (precinctfinder.comelec.gov.ph) to avoid surprises, though walk-in verification is still possible.

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7. For Overseas Filipino Voters

1. File the loss affidavit and replacement request at the nearest Philippine Embassy/Consulate or Migrant Workers Office.
2. Pay US $3.00 (or its local currency equivalent) certification fee per COMELEC-DFA Joint Circular 2019-1.
3. Certification usually released within the day; in high-volume posts it may take up to five working days.
4. If you will be home in the Philippines before the next election, you may also process the replacement at your local OEO.

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8. Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer (July 2025)
Will COMELEC ever resume PVC card printing?	The Commission announced in Resolution 10825 (2024) an intent to pilot a polycarbonate e-Voter Card integrated with PhilSys, but no target date is fixed. Until then, certifications remain the official proof.
Is my old voter’s ID still valid even if it has my maiden name?	Yes. Civil status change does not invalidate the ID or your registration; you only need to file a CEF-1C (Change of Entries) to update records.
Can I authorise someone to claim my certification?	No. Personal appearance is mandatory under RA 8189 §12 to prevent identity fraud. The only exception is a medically incapacitated registrant who can present a notarised doctor’s certificate and execute a Special Power of Attorney (SPA).
Do I need an affidavit if my ID was destroyed (fire, flood)?	Yes — execute an Affidavit of Loss/Destruction citing the specific calamity or event.
Is the voter’s certification accepted by banks or DFA for passport?	Yes. BSP Memorandum M-2019-011 and DFA Passport Circular NPC-2020-11 list it among acceptable secondary IDs, provided it bears the dry seal and QR code.

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9. Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

1. Unsigned Affidavit – Sign in front of the notary; missing signature voids the document.
2. Wrong municipality/city – Apply only where you are registered; transfers require a separate CEF-1B.
3. Stale biometrics – If your fingerprints/photo cannot be matched (blurred old data), you will be queued for re-capture, which may lengthen processing.
4. Fee mismatch – Some old internet posts still cite ₱50; as of 2019 the uniform fee is ₱75. Bring exact change.
5. Name discrepancy vs. valid ID – If your government ID spells “Ma.” but your voter record has “Maria,” bring supporting docs (PSA birth/marriage certificate).

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10. Timeline & Appeals

• Same-day to 3-day issuance – routine cases.
• 10 days – maximum period for EO to act on complex cases (COMELEC Res. 10549 §13).
• 5 days to appeal – If denied, file a verified petition with the Provincial Election Supervisor; further appeal lies with COMELEC-En Banc under Rule 38, Comelec Rules of Procedure.

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11. Template: Affidavit of Loss (excerpt)

AFFIDAVIT OF LOSS

I, [Your Name], Filipino, of legal age, single/married, and a resident of [Address], after having been duly sworn, depose and state:

1. That I am a duly registered voter of Precinct [####], Barangay _____, [City/Municipality, Province];
2. That my COMELEC Voter’s Identification Card bearing Control No. [if remembered] was accidentally lost on or about [Date] at [Place/Circumstance];
3. That despite diligent search, the said ID can no longer be found and is beyond recovery;
4. That I execute this Affidavit to attest to the truth of the foregoing and to request issuance of a replacement Voter’s Certification.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand this [Date] at [City], Philippines.

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[Your Name] Affiant

(Include jurat with venue, notary name, commission no., etc.)

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12. Practical Checklist

• ☐ Precinct No. (verify via Online Precinct Finder)
• ☐ Notarised Affidavit of Loss
• ☐ Valid Government-ID + photocopy
• ☐ Completed CEF-1D / CEF-11 form
• ☐ ₱75 fee (or proof of exemption)
• ☐ Personal appearance at OEO

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13. Key Take-Home Points

1. No more PVC cards — expect a paper Voter’s Certification until COMELEC finalises its new e-ID.
2. Affidavit of Loss + valid ID are the non-negotiables.
3. Fee is ₱75, waived for priority sectors.
4. Routine replacement takes less than a day in most cities.
5. Losing your card does not affect your right to vote or to run for public office.

For further assistance, contact COMELEC Helpdesk hotlines (+63 2 8527-9365 / 8526-7769) or email info@comelec.gov.ph.

Prepared by: [Your-Name], J.D. • Updated: 03 July 2025