The Commission on Elections reminded registered voters that they do not need to submit documents and other certificates in order to vote for the 2019 midterm elections.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez reminded voters after a Twitter user called his attention to a text message that said the user cannot vote if he or she has not passed certain “requirements” involving the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
@COMELEC @jabjimenez good day po, we received this txt po, verify lng po namin how true, am from Ormoc…. pic.twitter.com/XMNy6TjhrK
— ally (@mecp1008) May 3, 2019
“We would like to inform you that you have failed to comply all your requirements for this coming election. You are not allowed to vote if you haven’t passed the following requirements THE PSA/NSO. You are not qualified to vote,” the text message reads.
The text message came from an 11-digit number and not from an official government agency. There were also grammatical errors spotted.
Jimenez responded by saying that the user — if he or she has already registered in the Comelec — is no longer required to present any document or certificate whatsoever prior to voting.
This is fake! Among other reasons, the only qualification a voter is required to comply with is to be a registered voter of the place where they intend to vote. So there is nothing you need to submit to anyone in order to be qualified to vote. #VoterEd #VoterSuppression #NLE2019 https://t.co/ho7UaGd4TX
— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) May 3, 2019
Registered voters only need to know the location of their voting centers on election day. These are authorized centers where Filipinos can cast their votes — usually in schools, gyms or malls.
People can ask the Comelec about the location of their voting centers by calling the polling body’s landline at (02) 526-7769 or sending them an e-mail at [email protected] or [email protected].
They are also not required to bring their voter’s identification card as Comelec has stopped issuing it on 2012 under the expectation that a national ID will be released.
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“Isa sa mga kumakalat ngayon na balita ay kailangan daw ng voter’s ID para makaboto. Hindi po totoo ‘yan, fake news po ‘yan, wag kayong maniniwala. In fact, you will not need any ID, unless someone challenges your identity,” Jimenez said in a DZMM Halalan 2019 Forum.
The only way voters’ identity can be confirmed is through the Election Day Computerized Voters’ List and the Voter Registration Verification Machine that scans fingerprints.
Only Filipinos who have yet to register as a voter needed to pass requirements to local Comelec offices.
The polling body previously warned the public about the proliferation of “fake news” as Election Day approaches this May 13, 2019.
